NEWS FROM THE AUBURN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTANCY
WINTER 2020
SOA CONNECTION
TECHNOLOGY
& DATA
TRANSFORMING OUR PROFESSION
ALSO INSIDE:
Amy Murphy Named Outstanding Alumna and Director Emerita; 94 Percent of MAccs Pass CPA Exam; and Student-Athletes Take a Bow.
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Dear Alumni and Friends, Seventeen years ago, my good friend and colleague Dr. Jennifer MuellerPhillips suggested I apply for a job in a state in which I had never set foot. While I will refrain from sharing my initial reaction here (ask me in person and I will tell you), I ultimately followed her wise council and was invited to join the Auburn Family. The last sixteen years on the faculty have been incredibly fulfilling. Now, following a season of swift change at Auburn University and the Harbert College of Business, it is my great pleasure to greet you as Director of the School of Accountancy. How fitting that the theme of this issue is change; that is, how technology and analytics are changing the accounting profession. When I joined the faculty in 2003, we were snail-mailing DVDs to students in our fledgling distance programs (we’d only recently switched from VHS). Now our classes stream on any device, and robots and drones are commonly used audit tools. Employers now emphasize advanced data analytics skills for accounting majors. What an exciting time to be on the front lines of accounting education. This issue is filled with stories of the many successes of our students. Having taught in our undergraduate and MAcc programs for sixteen years, I have long known the quality of our students and programs. This year we celebrate unbelievable internship and full-time
student placement rates, extremely high MAcc CPA Exam pass rates (94 percent), and increasing student support. In addition, all of our MAcc students receive tuition assistance, with many of them working in units across campus, exemplifying the quality of our students. Equally impressive is our faculty. I have long believed that our faculty are among the most committed and talented in the Harbert College. Serving in my new capacity as director has only confirmed this belief. Our faculty have recently been recognized nationally and internationally for outstanding research and teaching. They are publishing in the very best journals in their discipline and are presenting their research all over the world. Finally, we celebrate our alumni. In my short time as director, I have witnessed countless instances of alumni giving back. They give their time, share their wisdom, and provide much-needed financial support for our students and programs. To our alumni, thank you for all you do for us. I hope you find the stories in the pages that follow as inspiring as I do. War Eagle! Duane Brandon, PhD Taylor Professor and Director School of Accountancy
The SOA Connection is a publication of Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business (HCOB) produced and distributed to alumni and friends of the School of Accountancy. MANAGING EDITOR Colby Lakas, Director, Accounting Recruiting and Professional Development CONTRIBUTORS Andee Hodo, Director, SOA Graduate and Online Accounting Programs Allie Dyleski, Administrator, SOA Graduate and Online Programs Ward Swift, HCOB Chief Marketing Officer Colleen Bourdeau, HCOB Communications and Marketing Manager Joe McAdory, HCOB Communications Editor Patrick Allen, HCOB Senior Director of Development
2 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
Teri Greene, Freelance Writer Katie Jackson, Freelance Writer Various MAcc Alumni, Guest Writers PHOTOGRAPHY T2 Photography, www.t2photography.com LAYOUT DESIGN & PRINTING McQuick Printing Company Media Production Group
BY THE NUMBERS 94% CPA EXAM PASS RATE FOR MAcc CLASS OF 2019 ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT
89% GRADUATING SENIORS COMPLETING INTERNSHIPS
100% PLACEMENT RATE FOR MAcc STUDENTS
301 Lowder Hall 405 W. Magnolia Ave Auburn, AL 36849 334-844-5340 www.harbert.auburn.edu
27
FACULTY PUBLICATIONS*
40 FACULTY INTERNATIONAL PRESENTATIONS*
499 FALL 2019 UNDERGRADUATE ACCOUNTING MAJORS
2,000+ HOURS
2019
GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS 88%
CLASS OF 2018
90%
CLASS OF 2019
100%
CLASS OF 2020
Beta Alpha Psi service to the Auburn community during 2018-19 *3 Year Total
TABLE OF CONTENTS Director’s Message
2
Accounting Millennials and the Digital Age
4
2019 Outstanding Alumna
8
Advisory Council
10
Faculty News
14
Beta Alpha Psi
21
2019 Accounting Internships
25
Auburn Accounting Online
28
MAcc Program
30
SOA Sports
35
Scholarships and Awards
36
Alumni News
40
In Memoriam
46
Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 3
ACCOUNTING MILLENNIALS AND THE DIGITAL AGE
Young Alums Embrace Data Analytics to Meet Career Challenges Accelerating Toward the Future: Mac McManus and Candace Reeve Keeping pace with the speed of technology and the rapid change it brings to our lives isn’t easy, but two School of Accountancy alumni have joined the race, Candace Reeve using knowledge as their fuel. Those alumni, Candace (Lawrence) Reeve and Mac McManus, are on a rotation with Digital Accelerators, an innovative and Mac McManus forward-thinking pilot program offered by their employer, PwC. Digital Accelerators, which launched in 2018, is designed to “digitally upskill” all PwC employees—that’s some 55,000 in the U.S.—by starting with 1,000 employee volunteers willing to immerse themselves in two years of intensive technology training. These two tigers were eager volunteers. McManus is a 2015 BSBA graduate who works in the tax practice out of PwC’s Charlotte office. Reeve, who holds her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy from Auburn (2014 and 2015, respectively) is in PwC’s Nashville office on the audit side. Both joined the PwC team right out of college, and both quickly realized they still had a lot to learn, especially about technology, which was not a personal passion during their college days. 4 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
PwC Digital Accelerator employees (Reeve, far right) relax during their training program. According to Reeve, she took a few technology courses in college, but didn’t appreciate their correlation to accounting. “When I got to PwC and saw the impacts of technology, though, I realized I can’t turn a blind eye,” Reeve said.
“Technology is rapidly evolving, but PwC equips us with the skill sets needed to succeed in our careers.” McManus had a similar epiphany. He knew technology and analytics were disrupting the accounting field, but at PwC he began to see how they benefited the profession and how they were valuable to his career. “In the past, we spent too many hours manually moving data around, but
with the help of data-wrangling tools and robotics, we’ve begun to eliminate some of the legwork and have more capacity to focus on the bigger picture,” he said. Realizing they needed to improve their technology skills and savvy, both are deeply appreciative of PwC for providing the Digital Accelerators program. “Technology is rapidly evolving, but PwC acknowledges that and equips us with the skill sets needed to succeed in our careers,” said Reeve. The goal of Digital Accelerators is to “future-proof ” PwC and its employees by “upskilling” proficiencies in three main areas—data and analytics, with a focus on efficiently collecting and securely managing data; automation in the form of robotics, drones, and augmented reality; and artificial intelligence and machine learning. Though their responsibilities have temporarily shifted as they immerse themselves in the program, Reeve and
McManus are already using their newfound expertise to work with their colleagues and drive value for their clients. PwC also provides tools, such as a digital fitness app filled with podcasts, articles, games, and other educational resources, to keep the participants up to speed now and into the future. And when the Digital Accelerator program ends, these first 1,000 trained employees will help mentor their colleagues in technology. And when the Digital Accelerator program ends, these first thousand trained employees will help mentor their own colleagues in new technologies.
McManus and Reeve agree that the program is empowering their tech skills, but it’s also enhancing their personal skills. “I thought technology was way over my head,” Reeve said, “but it’s actually the opposite.” She credits her ability to grasp this new field to two core values she learned at Auburn—the importance of infinite learning and of becoming change-agile. “My Digital Accelerator role teaches me to be more open to new opportunities, get out of my comfort zone, and try things out of my wheelhouse,” Reeve said. “And when you go into the unknown and succeed, there’s no better confidence-builder.”
“I agree 100 percent,” McManus said. Tackling these new tech skills and concepts requires an attitude shift, “especially for Type A personalities like us,” he said, but it’s worth the effort. “We’re all asked to be continual learners and that can be intimidating at first. However, once you decide to accept the challenge, an idea that once frightened you quickly becomes a source of energy.” Both know this opportunity allows them to gain ground in the technology race, but they also know it’s a marathon, not a sprint. “There’s probably not an end to this road,” McManus said. “And there’s always more to learn.”
Optimizing Success: Dillon Stose
understand a company’s current status and future potential in the marketplace. However, it is a remarkably underleveraged resource—most online businesses utilize only a fraction (0.5 percent) of the data they collect—primarily because there’s so much of it, and in its raw form, it’s not very useful. That’s where Stose fuses the accounting skills she acquired at Auburn and her first job at Grant Thornton LLP with the analysis skills she learned and honed on the job to refine raw data into problemsolving answers. Stose’s job may seem like a departure from a traditional accounting career, but she sees it as an extension of that career.
is a necessity,” she said. “Numbers don’t lie, and analytics can help solve problems and come up with solutions, but you have to learn how to analyze and interpret huge sets of data and translate it into actionable goals.” “Most importantly, analytics can provide insight,” she continues. “And that’s what companies want at the end of the day.” And, as Stose’s career illustrates, analytics can optimize the success of not just businesses, but also of accounting professionals.
The online retail market is clicking along at a brisk pace, so brisk that online sales are now the fastest-growing sector of the retail economy. To be successful in this dynamic e-economy, online retailers must fully utilize data, which requires the help of someone like Dillon Stose. Stose, who received her bachelor’s degree from the School of Accountancy in 2014, uses a mix of accounting and analysis skills in her position as a data analytics project manager with Optivations, a West Palm Beach-based company that partners with more than 100 retail brands, including Amazon, to provide solutions for online retailers. Optivations helps these partners enhance their brands—and their success— in the ever-changing e-commerce landscape by focusing on “multichannel brand optimization.” Or, as Stose explained, “We work to enhance online brand success outside the brand’s own dot-com.” These days consumers have lots of options for interacting with online retailers, including websites, brick-andmortar stores, direct mail, email, texts, loyalty programs, and mobile apps. To retain current customers and attract new ones, brands must fully understand their target customers, what they want, and how they can be reached. And the best way to determine that is to use market data, such as the abundant and incredibly valuable information online retailers collect each time shoppers click on their websites. Those data provide a treasure trove of information that can be mined to better
“Numbers don’t lie, and analytics can help solve problems.” “Accountants are analytical by nature, and we work with data and analytics all the time to assess business performance,” she said. Though she enjoyed her work as an audit associate at Grant Thornton, where she began to truly grasp the power of analytics, the Optivations job was an opportunity to fully utilize her talents and interests. “What drew me to my current position was the opportunity to focus on the three components of audit and accounting that I enjoy most: client relations, project management, and analytics.” She also sees it as a wave of the future. “These days, with big data and fastpaced, rapidly evolving markets, analytics
Dillon Stose
Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 5
ACCOUNTING MILLENNIALS AND THE DIGITAL AGE Going Pro: Michael Pelfrey It takes talent, determination, and focus to make it into the NFL, which are exactly the traits that helped School of Accountancy alumnus Michael Pelfrey (BSBA ’15) secure a second season with the Detroit Lions. Okay, Pelfrey’s position as a football analytics intern requires crunching numbers rather than crushing opponents, but those numbers are vital to the team’s staff (coaching, scouting, and salary caps) as they try to make informed decisions that may be the difference between bringing home a division title or a Vince Lombardi Super Bowl trophy. Pelfrey’s love of the game began when he was growing up in Cincinnati, playing rec-league football and baseball. He loved playing those sports, but by junior high school Pelfrey realized he probably wasn’t pro-athlete material. An entertainment and sports management class he took in high school, however, gave him another route into professional sports. He soon began scouting sports management degree programs at various universities, and during that process, he got some sage coaching advice from an advisor in one of the programs: Get a businessrelated undergraduate degree first, then go to graduate school for sports management. “That opened my eyes to looking at business schools,” Pelfrey said, and since he hails from an accounting family, majoring in accounting was “a no-brainer.” It was a family trip to take his older sister to freshman orientation at the University of Alabama that exposed Pelfrey to Auburn. “Since I was starting to look at colleges, my father thought we should stop by Auburn to check it off the list,” he said. “I immediately fell in love with the campus! I know it sounds corny, but I really said to myself, ‘This is where I want to be.’” It didn’t hurt that Auburn had an exceptional School of Accountancy and a premier sports program, and Pelfrey quickly immersed himself in both, including landing his own sports show on the campus radio station, WEGL, soon after he arrived on campus. (He eventually became WEGL’s sports director.) Pelfrey
also worked as an Auburn Athletics sports marketing intern, learning the ins and outs of hosting home events for practically every Auburn team sport, from football to equestrian. After completing his undergraduate degree, Pelfrey went straight into the dual MBA/Master of Sports Management degree program at Ohio University and set his sights on a career in professional football management. That career path,
his current position with the Lions for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. In his job, Pelfrey analyzes data with an eye toward helping the Lions’ management staff save time and make better decisions, but he’s also looking for “advantages in the margins that can help us win.” That means digging deeper into the huge amount of available data, including the ever-growing supply of information generated by emerging technology, such as innovative new playertracking tools. “No one has ever had access to this kind of data before,” Pelfrey said. “We need to figure out how to use it to get those marginal advantages.” Figuring that out isn’t easy, but Pelfrey finds it incredibly rewarding. “It takes a lot of research and problem solving, and the answers are not always obvious, but I am thankful that accounting taught me to keep digging until I have that ‘aha moment,�” he said. As Pelfrey uses his talent, determination, and focus in the coming season with the Lions—and his coming years in professional football—he’s looking forward to many more “aha moments,” which he hopes will add up to his ultimate goal: “Use analytics to help the team win a Super Bowl.”
“I know it sounds corny, but I really said to myself, ‘This is where I want to be.’”
6 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
however, is almost as competitive as being a pro player, but thanks to more good coaching, Pelfrey found a game plan. “My OU program advisor suggested that analytics was a way to get my foot in the door,” Pelfrey said. Using his strong foundation in accounting and his natural talent with numbers, Pelfrey set to work. Because Pelfrey had no cleatson-the-ground experience in professional football, he also needed to build his NFL expertise and connections, which he did by networking with OU alumni who were working in the League. Through those contacts, Pelfrey landed his first internship with the New York Giants in 2017 and
Michael Pelfrey had an important off-field role with the Detroit Lions, analyzing player data.
Healthy Data: Stephanie O’Donnell Data is a valuable resource for any profession, but for the healthcare profession, it is literally a lifesaving resource. This is just one reason School of Accountancy alumna Stephanie (Cope) O’Donnell loves her job. As manager of analytics at UCHealth in Aurora, Colorado, O’Donnell (BSBA ’07) uses accounting and analytics to create innovative management programs that improve and protect lives across Colorado… and perhaps, one day, across the nation. O’Donnell was a high school student in Chantilly, Virginia, when she “discovered” accounting, a discovery strongly encouraged by her father. “I wanted to take a psychology class, but he thought that was a horrible idea,” she said. He believed an accounting elective was a much smarter choice because, “If you understand accounting, you understand business.” She grudgingly agreed to take Accounting I (her dad grudgingly agreed to let her take the psychology class, too) and O’Donnell quickly realized that she enjoyed accounting far more than psychology. “I loved it! It just made sense to me,” she said. When O’Donnell came to Auburn for college (a choice her father approved of, and her mother’s Mississippi State Bulldog loving family could tolerate), she chose accounting as her major. Though she entertained the idea of changing majors early on at Auburn, once O’Donnell took her Principles of Financial Accounting class, she never looked back. After graduation, O’Donnell interned with PwC in the Washington, D.C., area, and then completed a Master of Accountancy degree at George Washington University before returning full time to PwC’s McLean, Virginia, audit practice. “I loved PwC and my coworkers,” O’Donnell said. “But I didn’t love audit.” She wanted to apply her accounting skills to problem solving—putting together puzzle pieces—and started looking for opportunities within PwC. She transferred to PwC’s Cincinnati office, but was soon recruited away by HealthScape Advisors, a startup healthcare management consulting firm based in Chicago. A year later, O’Donnell moved to Berkeley Research Group LLC to be part of a newly created multidisciplinary healthcare performance improvement team working with hospitals and health systems. The job was interesting and exciting, and it also gave
O’Donnell a deeper appreciation for the value and importance of data, especially in healthcare. “A lot of people think data is data, but I can assure you, in healthcare it’s not,” she said. “In healthcare, it’s a matter of life and death.” If data is bad, or poorly analyzed, the consequences are grave, a problem compounded by the enormous amount of data collected by the healthcare industry. For many healthcare providers and businesses, this huge amount of data is overwhelming, so many of Berkeley Research’s clients had no idea what data they had or how to use it. During her five years with Berkeley Research, O’Donnell and her team created an innovative new service offering that helped healthcare industry clients use data to improve their bottom lines and improve patient care, which she found extremely rewarding. Last fall, when O’Donnell and her accountant husband, Brent, moved with their now two-year-old daughter, Molly, to the Denver area, she found a new way to use her skills in a world-class healthcare system. “Not only is UCHealth the No. 1 healthcare system in Colorado, in 2018-19 we were ranked 16th in the U.S. (keeping close company with Johns Hopkins University as well as Mayo and Cleveland clinics),” she said. It’s also on the leading edge of healthcare IT. “There are only two or three other health care systems in the country that are as data-driven as UCHealth,” she
Stephanie O’Donnell more time to arrange for patient care after their release from the hospital. O’Donnell and her team use predictive analytics to improve patient care at UCHealth’s virtual health center, a round the-clock command center used to monitor high-risk, critical-care patients. The center, which opened in 2018, allows a single nurse to closely monitor up to 200 patients at a time, and UCHealth hopes to expand the concept throughout the hospital and use it for at-home monitoring of patients in hardtoaccess, rural areas of the state. According to O’Donnell, UCHealth is partnering with tech companies, such as Google and other IT leaders, to build these technology-based solutions into product offerings for other hospitals across the nation, thus multiplying the impact of UCHealth’s programs. In pursuit of this career, O’Donnell has augmented her accounting foundation with plenty of self-directed technology and analytics training, but she would not trade her accounting degree for an IT degree. “Accounting has opened a lot of doors,” she said. “And it gave me the big picture view of business and how businesses work— how all the pieces fit together.” Of course, her father would never say, “I told you so”— right?
“Don’t just tell me what happened. Tell me what's going to happen and what I can do to improve outcomes.” said. UCHealth is using that data in truly groundbreaking ways. “A lot of healthcare data is used for retrospective analysis to determine things like the number of patients served and the number and types of procedures performed,” she said. “UCHealth is focused on predictive and prescriptive analytics: don’t just tell me what happened. Tell me what is going to happen and what I can do to prevent it from happening or improve outcomes.” For example, analytics can be used to improve capacity management by predicting the number of staff members and hospital beds needed for patients. Analytics can also predict patient discharge dates, which allows
Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 7
2019 OUTSTANDING ALUMNA
Amy Murphy Is Named Outstanding Alumna Prior to Her Retirement
Amy Murphy holds a plaque commemorating the Endowed Distinguished Professorship that alumni and friends funded in recognition of her accomplishments. Amy Murphy was at a crossroads. The likable Southern girl from North Alabama worked her way up from an entry-level file clerk position to mid-management at Central Bank (now BBVA Compass Bank), but she aspired for more. After applying for a commercial lending position, HR informed her that future promotions would not happen without a four-year degree. Murphy said, “I was 27 years old and didn’t know what to do. I did know for certain that I would not settle for a career without growth or advancement opportunities.” Fate intervened, and this roadblock ultimately steered her toward academic, professional, and personal prosperity. The career hurdle she faced led her to her destiny: a role where she would 8 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
shape graduate accounting programs at Auburn University and touch the lives of countless students. After receiving a BSBA in Accountancy (1988) and a Master of Accountancy (1992) from Auburn University, Murphy was eventually offered the position of director of graduate programs in the School of Accountancy in 1994. Murphy retired on July 1, 2019, after 25 years. To thank her for her innumerable contributions, the SOA recognized her as the 2019 Outstanding Alumna at the annual awards ceremony in April. Murphy is responsible for many of the SOA’s initiatives and programs that make it what it is today—highly awarded and nationally respected. She developed the SOA’s formal internship program in
2000 and later created the “Accounting Roadmap to Success,” the SOA’s undergraduate recruiting and program guidance brochure. Murphy served as Beta Alpha Psi and Financial Leadership Society faculty advisor for a decade and taught Principles of Financial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting I, and Professional Development in Accountancy. In 2005 she pioneered a revision to the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) curriculum, allowing students to sit for the CPA Exam before graduation. This change yielded amazing pass rates and gained national recognition for the program. Murphy also created five online accounting programs over the past 18 years, leading the online MAcc Program to No. 6 by U.S. News & World Report in 2018, and developed
the first online undergraduate degree program at Auburn University. A woman who always had her finger on the pulse of SOA graduates, she established the SOA Connection alumni magazine, and served as editor for 18 years. Murphy’s honors and awards over her many years of service demonstrate exemplary leadership and an ability to serve as a role model for others. Her most recent awards and recognitions include the Auburn University Faculty Woman of Distinction Award 2019; Auburn University SGA’s Final Lecture Nominee 2018; Beta Alpha Psi Outstanding Teacher Award 2017; Alabama Society of CPAs Outstanding Accounting Educator Award 2017; Amy B. Murphy Endowed Distinguished Professorship established by alumni and faculty in 2017; and the naming of the Beta Alpha Psi Amy B. Murphy Service Award in 2015. Now, from the perspective of an extremely successful career, making the decision to leave banking and pursue an Auburn education was the best thing for Amy. “My father, Charles Murphy, strongly believed in hard work and education, so he offered to fund my way to Auburn so that I could pursue a degree from a major university,” Murphy explained. “I had one more shot to do something really great with my life. My father provided the financial support and my mother, Sarah Murphy, provided the love and endless support I needed to make such a drastic move. My parents stood by me as I left mid-level management in banking and became a fulltime student.” Another pivotal moment came in 1986. Ronald Reagan was president, Pat Dye was Auburn’s head football coach, and an accounting professor named Gary Waters walked into Amy Murphy’s life. “Thank goodness I met Gary Waters!” she said of the veteran Auburn academician. “He recognized my academic abilities and encouraged me to become a CPA. He said, ‘If you major in accounting and pursue your CPA, you will never have limitations. You will always have options.’ He was so right. Through his encouragement, I decided to pursue accounting. I wanted the sky to be the limit, and I can honestly say that by choosing accounting, I have had unlimited opportunities. Auburn gave that to me.” Undergraduate and graduate accounting degrees from Auburn lifted her to new professional heights in the corporate world as Murphy worked for Ernst &
Young and served as assistant controller at a flagship hospital in Alabama owned by a parent company in Naples, Florida. However, nowhere came close to feeling as much like “home” as Auburn. “Auburn helped me have a different life,” Murphy explained. Just as Waters steered Murphy toward an accounting degree, former Harbert College of Business Dean and Professor Wayne Alderman steered her back to the Plains in 1994. The School of Accountancy needed someone to lead the MAcc Program and other professional programs, and he knew Murphy was that person.
loved the most about her time at Auburn, she states, “It’s the lifelong relationships that I’ve developed with Auburn faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Being a part of the Auburn Family is one of the greatest blessings of my life.” Even in retirement, Murphy continues to mentor aspiring accounting students. She was a talented program administrator, but her true passion is teaching. While she'll no longer be the director of graduate programs, Auburn is fortunate that she continues to teach. “I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to teach part time during retirement and to pour into my students the discipline and guidance they need,” she added. “Although I don’t have any biological children of my own, God blessed me with the best and the brightest at Auburn University. My students will always be my heart and soul, and I love them dearly.” Murphy embodies the Auburn spirit and lives by the Auburn Creed. Throughout her tenure, her commitment to excellence was unwavering, and she led with passion and excitement while inspiring her students to reach their full potential. Her commitment to Auburn University and the School of Accountancy have always been beyond the call of duty, and her legacy and contributions will live on for future generations of proud SOA alumni.
“My students will always be my heart and soul, and I love them dearly.” She recounts, “John Maxwell, a renowned author, coach, and speaker, once said, ‘One of the greatest values of mentors is the ability to see ahead what others cannot see and to help them navigate a course to their destination.’ I am so grateful to my Auburn mentors, Dr. Wayne Alderman, Dr. Gary Waters, and Dr. Rick Tabor, for helping me reach my destination of serving students in higher education. Without these individuals in my life, I would not be where I am today. I have truly tried to emulate with my students what my mentors did for me.” The mentorship is now full circle, as Murphy has taught, advised, and mentored thousands of students over the past 25 years. When asked about the one thing she
Murphy stands among some of her greatest champions and mentors from the past 25 years. Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 9
ADVISORY COUNCIL The SOA Advisory Council represents alumni and friends who give their time and financial resources to support the School of Accountancy in countless ways.
Jay Robbins, current Council President
Advisory Council members tour the new Horton-Hardgrave Hall during their spring 2019 meeting.
Lori Arthurs, Senior Associate AD/CFO Auburn University Athletics Department Auburn, AL
Chad Downey, Vice President Treasury and Internal Audit Guardian Pharmacy LLC Atlanta, GA
Doug Barfield, Senior Information Systems Auditor Aflac Inc. Auburn, AL
Brett Dudney, Managing Director Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP Birmingham, AL
Steve Harrison, Partner Deloitte LLP Atlanta, GA Greg Henderson, President & CEO Southeast Alabama Gas District Andalusia, AL Greg Heston, Partner EY Atlanta, GA
Lamar Barnett, VP US Internal Audit Aflac Inc. Columbus, GA
Jennie Duvall, Director PwC Birmingham, AL
Steve Barranco, Member Warren Averett LLC Montgomery, AL
Amanda Foster, Partner PwC Atlanta, GA
Brad Birdwell, Partner Pivotal Finance Birmingham, AL
Brad Garland, Consultant Brand, Blackwell, & Company PC Huntsville, AL
Wes Brown, Director Kassouf & Co. PC Birmingham, AL
Clinton Gilmore, Partner Robinson, Grimes & Company PC Columbus, GA
Ric Kimball, Principal KPMG LLP Atlanta, GA
Matt Cessna, Merchant The Home Depot Atlanta, GA
Douglas Grant, Partner PwC Birmingham, AL
Kurt Koons, Partner PwC Atlanta, GA
David Chandler, Partner Aldridge, Borden & Company PC Montgomery, AL
Art Guy, Partner (Retired) EY Raleigh, NC
Richard King, Director of Charitable Giving Alabama Power Company Birmingham, AL
Lee Corte, Partner Deloitte LLP Washington, D.C.
Laura Hanks, Senior Manager BMSS Huntsville, AL
Ben Leaver, Vice President of Finance Robins & Morton Birmingham, AL
10 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
Ryan Inlow, Partner-In-Charge Mauldin & Jenkins Albany, GA Will Jones, Principal Jackson Thornton Opelika, AL
Kevin Wang leads innovation at Warren Averett.
Harrison Lewis, Senior Manager EY Chattanooga, TN
DeWayne Searcy, CIO & VP, Sales Administration Cowin Equipment Company Inc. Birmingham, AL
Jonathan Mayer, Senior Manager EY Atlanta, GA
Brooke Walker, Corporate Tax Chick-fil-A Inc. Atlanta, GA
Gray McDermott, Shareholder Crow Shields Bailey PC Mobile, AL
Kevin Wang, Director of Innovation Warren Averett Birmingham, AL
Brian McNeely, Partner Reagan Consulting Atlanta, GA Justin Mitchell, Tax Supervisor RSM US LLP Birmingham, AL Jerry Moore, Treasurer & Controller Altec Industries Birmingham, AL Christopher Munday, Senior Manager Deloitte LLP Atlanta, GA Darren Neuschwander, Managing Member Green, Neuschwander & Manning LLC Mobile, AL Jay Robbins, Partner AGL CPA Group Atlanta, GA
YOUNG ALUMNI
Emily Farrell, Director PwC Atlanta, GA Rachel Newcomb, Manager Deloitte LLP Houston, TX
Advisory Council Member Carves Technology Niche Technology and gadgets have always been a part of Kevin Wang’s life. He learned quickly how to take electronic devices apart—then put them back together—at a young age. When his parents purchased a desktop PC for the family, his real passion for technology ignited. Wang parlayed this passion and his Auburn accounting education (BSBA ’09, MAcc �10) to become director of innovation at Warren Averett, a position he holds today. In this position, Wang leads Warren Averett to innovate and leverage technology in the firm’s processes as well as client services. In addition, his role entails creating efficiencies by automating manual or repetitive tasks through the use of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and robotic process automation. “I quickly found out that I had to find a special niche to stand out in a larger firm, so I married my degree with my lifelong passion, which led to this position’s creation,” he said. “I’m extremely fortunate to have found my dream job at such a young age.” But why does the accounting industry—a workforce that utilized manual ledgers in the not-so-distant past—need modern technology to thrive? “Look at See Wang, page 13 Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 11
ADVISORY COUNCIL NEW MEMBERS
Megan Lansden, Partner, EY
We proudly welcome the following individuals to the SOA Advisory Council. Their professional experiences and devotion to Auburn will undoubtedly add value as we strive to achieve our mission of being a preeminent School of Accountancy.
Megan is a Partner in the Birmingham office of EY’s Financial Services practice. She has 13 years of experience serving public and nonpublic clients, primarily in the insurance industry. Megan leads the Professional Women’s Network for EY’s Birmingham office. She also leads the Birmingham tax department’s recruiting.
Anthony Banks, Senior Manager, Deloitte LLP Anthony works in Deloitte’s Atlanta office and has over ten years of experience. He performs tax consulting for companies considering capital-raising and debt restructuring transactions, acquisitions or dispositions of distressed or formerly distressed companies, or companies seeking in-court/out-of-court restructuring. Anthony attended Auburn University and graduated with a BSBA (’08) and MAcc (’09). He is a licensed CPA in Georgia.
Michael Lange, Partner, Aprio Michael is a partner in the Atlanta Assurance practice at Aprio and a leader of the firm’s Manufacturing and Distribution group. He has experience auditing pre-revenue startups to companies with revenues of more than $500 million. Michael also has served technology, professional services, and retail and hospitality companies across the United States. Michael holds a BSBA in accounting (’06) from Auburn University and is a CPA licensed in Georgia. 12 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
Megan holds both a MAcc (’06) and a BSBA (’04) degree in accounting from Auburn University. She is a CPA licensed in Alabama.
Aaron Maguire, Partner, KPMG LLP Aaron is a Business Tax Services partner with KPMG in Atlanta. He has 25 years of experience in tax matters related to the insurance industry. Aaron became a partner in KPMG’s New York office, and then moved to Atlanta to become the head of the National Insurance Tax practice at DHG. He rejoined KPMG in 2016. Aaron holds a BS in Accounting and Finance from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He is a licensed CPA in New York and Georgia.
Robert Miller, Partner, Carr, Riggs & Ingram LLC Robert works in CRI’s Montgomery office and has more than 20 years of experience in public accounting. He works with insurance-related entities, closely held businesses, and not-
for-profits. He specializes in providing tax preparation and compliance services, client accounting outsourcing services, business consulting, tax planning, and IRS representation. Robert earned his BSBA in accounting (’94) from Auburn University and is a CPA licensed in Alabama.
Ryan Mills, Partner, CohnReznick Ryan works in CohnReznick’s Atlanta office as a member of the firm’s Assurance practice. Ryan has provided accounting services for a variety of clients in the real estate industry, as well as real estate clients in the non-profit sector. Ryan holds a BS and MS in accounting from the University of Florida. He is a CPA licensed in Georgia.
Glenn Mitchell, Atlanta Office Managing Partner, EY Glenn is responsible for the internal community of more than 3,300 EY professionals who live in the metropolitan Atlanta area. He also serves as the GeorgiaAlabama-Tennessee Market Leader and an audit partner in the Southeast Region’s Assurance practice of EY. Glenn has 25 years of experience providing professional services to Fortune 1000 and high-growth organizations. Glenn obtained his BSBA in accounting (’93) from Auburn University and is a CPA licensed in Georgia and Tennessee.
Terry Sparks, Birmingham Office Managing Partner, PwC In his role, Terry oversees PwC’s Alabama assurance, tax, and advisory practices. He also serves as a partner in the firm’s Financial Services Practice, and has over 18 years of experience providing audit and business advisory services to clients. Terry enjoys leading many of PwC’s recruiting initiatives and attracting new hires to the firm. Terry holds a BSBA (’96) and MAcc (’97) from Auburn University; he is also a licensed Alabama CPA.
Scott Stewart, Partner, RSM Scott has over 18 years of experience and serves as RSM’s Market Private Equity group leader. In the firm’s audit practice, he focuses on middle market manufacturing and distribution clients, with an additional concentration in the real estate industry. Prior to joining RSM, Scott spent nearly eight years at a Big Four accounting firm. Scott earned a BSBA (’98) and MAcc (’99) from Auburn University and is a CPA licensed in Alabama.
YOUNG ALUMNI Mallory Burks, Senior Associate, KPMG Mallory has experience in the retail, technology, media and telecommunications, government, non-profit, and insurance industries.
Mallory received her undergraduate degree from Auburn University (’14) and attended UAB for her MAcc. Mallory is a CPA licensed in Georgia.
Mike Geeslin, Manager, Geeslin Group LLC Located in Metro Atlanta, Mike works across all service lines, including personal and business taxation, business consulting, and audit/assurance work. He began his career in audit at Deloitte and thereafter joined Intercontinental Exchange as a senior accountant. Mike earned his BSBA (’11) and MAcc (’12) from Auburn University. He is a licensed CPA in Georgia.
Will Geeslin, Manager, Geeslin Group LLC Will works in both the assurance and tax service lines with a focus on controls reporting, tax planning, and financial consulting. He joined Greater Atlanta’s Geeslin Group from Compass, a technology-based real estate startup in New York City. He began his career at EY as a professional practice researcher and later became an assurance associate in the Atlanta manufacturing group. Will is a licensed CPA in Georgia and earned his BSBA (’11) and MAcc (’12) from Auburn University.
Wang, continued from page 11 Blockbuster Video,” Wang answered. “They flourished for almost 20 years with physical locations renting out VHS tapes, games, and DVDs. Ultimately, their business model was disrupted by digital streaming, and they didn’t see it coming.” Technology has also changed the accounting landscape. How? Wang pointed out that advances in data security and transfer protocols, as well as lower storage costs, have allowed firms like Warren Averett to shift to a paperless environment. Just like the physical Blockbuster Video stores vanished, so will paper record keeping. Unlike Blockbuster, though, the accounting industry continues to evolve alongside the technological advances. “Clients benefit from the increased speed of transmitting deliverables as well as the functionality of interactive deliverables,” said Wang, who was a part of Warren Averett’s audit division from 2010 to 2016. The interactive deliverables include components of client financial statement metrics as well as forecasts based on different scenarios and benchmarking to peers based on a client’s industry and company size. “Technology allows for better collaboration with our teams and clients. We now employ various means of remote communication like video conference calls and screen sharing, which reduces travel costs for the firm, and in turn, our clients.” Wang takes pride in new technologyfocused initiatives at Warren Averett aimed at client service. “In 2018, Warren Averett launched our own client portal called Warren Averett Connect,” he explained. “Having this portal allows our clients to have 24/7 access to tax returns or financial statements from previous years, as well as the capability to approve and sign in-process documents. In addition to creating a better experience for our clients, our team has had a better experience in obtaining documents provided by our clients.” The portal is so popular that Warren Averett clients have asked if they could purchase the platform to use with their customers. This initiative is one of Warren Averett’s differentiators and helped the firm earn a spot on Accounting Today’s “Best Firms for Technology in 2019” list. Kevin Wang looks forward to bringing new tools to his firm; after all, it is his passion. And to think, it all started on a family computer. Winter Winter2020 2020 The SOA Connection 13
FACULTY NEWS
Two SOA Faculty Members Named to Associate Professorships The School of Accountancy and the Harbert College of Business were delighted to promote two faculty members, Dr. Kerry Inger and Dr. Travis Holt, to Associate Professor with tenure as of fall semester 2019. Dr. Inger joined Auburn in 2012 after completing her PhD at Virginia Tech. She specializes in taxation and has research focused primarily on the effect of income taxes on capital markets and financial reporting. Her recent research focuses on the association between corporate taxes and corporate social responsibility. Her research has been published in the Journal of the American Taxation Association, Journal of Management Accounting Research, Issues in Accounting Education, Strategic Finance, and Tax Notes. One of her studies was covered by the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, as well as other popular media outlets. She won the School of Accountancy Outstanding Research Award in 2014 and 2018. Inger regularly presents her research at national and international conferences, including recent presentations in Cyprus and Barcelona. Inger teaches undergraduate Income Tax I and the graduate-level Federal Tax Research. She has won numerous teaching awards, including the School of
14 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
Accountancy Outstanding Teaching Award, the Deloitte/ATA Innovations in Teaching Tax Award, and most recently the Harbert College of Business McCartney Outstanding Teaching Award. Inger is involved in international programs, serving as a chaperone on MAcc International trips to South America and Europe and the Harbert College Business Minor program in Madrid. She has been selected to chair a national tax teaching conference in 2020. Dr. Holt joined Auburn in 2013 after completing his PhD at the University of Alabama and serving for four years on the faculty at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. While at Auburn, Holt has maintained an active research agenda focused on governance transparency, auditor independence, and investor judgment and decision making. His research has been published in a number of academic journals, including Accounting Horizons; Accounting, Organizations, and Society; Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory; Behavioral Research in Accounting; International Journal of Auditing; and Journal of Information Systems. He has also published articles in practitioner journals, such as Internal Auditing, The CPA Journal, and The RMA Journal. Recognitions of Holt’s research include the receipt of a highly competitive research grant from KPMG LLP and the School of Accountancy Outstanding Research Award for 2018-2019. He regularly presents his research both nationally and internationally including recent presentations in Singapore and the Netherlands. Holt teaches Intermediate Accounting I and Accounting Information Systems to Auburn students. “I left KPMG to pursue a career in academia primarily because I wanted to be an accounting teacher,” he says. “I had several great professors who really helped to mentor me as an undergraduate student, and I wanted to follow in their footsteps. I am blessed by the relationships that I’ve been able to develop with students while at Auburn.”
Dr. Inger and her husband Matt enjoy traveling with their children, Marlowe and Adalyn.
Drs. Kerry Inger and Travis Holt.
Although Dr. Holt holds three University of Alabama diplomas, his dog (Dom) is an Auburn fan.
University Awards and Recognition
SOA Outstanding Teacher Award
Auburn University recently honored Associate Professor James Long with its highest teaching honor, the Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching. Auburn’s highest teaching honor. He is also the 2019 recipient of the Alumni Undergraduate Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award. The Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching: Gerald and Emily Leischuck, 1964 graduates and retired Auburn University administrators, created the Endowed Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching in 2005 to recognize two full-time, tenured faculty members who have demonstrated effective and innovative teaching methods, along with a continuing commitment to student success through advising and mentoring.
The Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award: This honor recognizes the outstanding teaching of undergraduates from nominations made by department heads, deans, alumni, and students. A committee of retired faculty selects the recipients.
Dr. Jonathan Stanley Associate Professor
HCOB Outstanding Staff Service Award
Dr. Long sits high in the Moroccan saddle during a study abroad trip.
Dr. James H. Long Associate Professor
Lona Childers
Administrative Support Associate Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 15
FACULTY NEWS
Tax Faculty and Student Volunteers Aid Local Families in SaveFirst Initiative
Dr. Kerry Inger, Associate Professor
Dr. Kerry Inger and Dr. Kim Key were invaluable to the Impact America SaveFirst initiative; they recruited student volunteers, coordinated service-learning opportunities for their students, and helped to set up training sessions. During the 2019 tax season, 62 Auburn students served at free tax preparation sites in Auburn and Opelika to help prepare 341 tax returns— securing families over $650,000 in tax refunds and saving them over $135,000 in commercial tax preparation fees.
2019 Auburn University Faculty Woman of Distinction
SELECT 2019 FACULTY CONFERENCES
Dr. Xu (Joyce) Cheng PwC Analytics & Automation Academy
Amy Murphy, Graduate and Online Program Director Emerita, left, receives the Faculty Woman of Distinction Award from Dr. Taffye Benson-Clayton, Associate Provost and VP for Inclusion and Diversity. 16 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
Dr. Kim Key, Professor
Dr. Travis Holt
Deloitte/FSA Faculty Consortium; KPMG Faculty Consortium
Andee Hodo
PwC Analytics & Automation Academy
Dr. Ryan Dunn
Deloitte Trueblood Seminars; KPMG/CAQ Strategies for Success in the College Classroom; Audit Educator’s Bootcamp (Sponsored by all Big 4 and GT)
Cases Make Cryptocurrencies, Blockchain Less Mysterious members working on each case. Assistant Professor Mollie Mathis said this multifaceted approach is an optimal way to let students delve into these emerging technologies without requiring them to have an advanced background in the underlying technologies.
Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, blockchain. These advances increasingly impact the accounting field, presenting both opportunities and challenges to the profession. How can accounting students grasp the intricate technology that drives advances, and what teaching methods are most effective? It is a predicament Associate Professor James Long and fellow faculty members have grappled with for the past several years. In 2013, students worked on a single case involving monetary currency related to Irish pub McGuire’s in Destin, Florida. The case required them to examine the tax, audit, and financial accounting treatment of thousands of dollar bills posted on its walls. However, Long said, the approach for cash proved too simplistic for understanding Bitcoin and blockchain. “We realized that Bitcoin and blockchain are both very extensive—it’s complicated to get your head around exactly what they are,” Long said. “We realized that if we were to try to do one case that touched on each functional area of accounting, it would be too long.” That led to a novel approach, which will eventually be available for accounting instructors worldwide: students work on five separate cases, each examining a specific facet of Bitcoin and/or blockchain. A majority of Auburn School of Accountancy faculty developed the case series, each devoting attention to their subject area of expertise. There is an introductory case and additional cases in tax, financial accounting, audit, and financial valuation, with two to three faculty
Long says the implications could be far-reaching. “There is a lot of excitement about these technologies,” Long said. “The big advantage of these cases is that there is one topic the students can engage with in a number of different classes in the curriculum and walk away with an understanding of not just auditing, financial accounting, and taxes, but also how cryptocurrencies work.”
“The big advantage of these cases is that there is one topic the students can engage with in a number of different classes in the curriculum.”
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In June, Mathis presented “Bitcoin Simulation Case & 4 More Blockchain Cases” to faculty from across the nation at the Intensive Data and Analytics Summer Workshop in Orlando. She said the approach generated significant interest from attendees, and the group anticipates a widespread adoption of the cases after they are published. The objective: students walk away from these cases with a solid understanding of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as well as the inner workings of blockchain. Mathis says this collaborative approach marks a turning point. “It is our hope that students will not only increase their knowledge related to new technologies that are transforming our profession, but also develop stronger critical thinking skills,” she added.
Dr. Mollie Mathis Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 17
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FACULTY NEWS
Select Faculty Accomplishments Cheng, X. and S. Walton, Forthcoming. “Do Nonprofessional Investors Care About How and When Data Breaches Are Disclosed?” Journal of Information Systems. Church, B.K., J.G. Jenkins, J.D. Stanley. 2018. “Auditor Independence in the United States: Cornerstone of the Profession or Thorn in Our Side?” Accounting Horizons. Bierstaker, J., D. Janvrin, J.G. Jenkins, and D.J. Lowe. 2018. “Information Technology in an Audit Context: Have the Big 4 Lost Their Advantage?” Journal of Information Systems. Downes, J., M. Mathis, and L. Kutcher. Forthcoming. “Firm-Specific Currency Exposure, Repatriation, and the Market Value of Repatriation Taxes.” The Journal of the American Taxation Association. Gimbar, C., J.G. Jenkins, G. Saucedo, and N. Wright. 2018. “Shifting Styles: Do Auditor Performance Levels Influence the Review Process?” International Journal of Auditing. Inger, Kerry K., and B. Vansant. 2019. “Market Valuation Consequences of Avoiding Taxes While also Being Socially Responsible.” Journal of Management Accounting Research. DeZoort, T. Holt, Stanley. 2019. DeZoort, F.T., F.T., T. Holt, and and J.D. J.D. Stanley. Forthcoming. “A Comparative Analysis “A Comparative Analysis of Investor andof InvestorMateriality and AuditorJudgments.” Materiality Judgments.” Auditor Auditing: Auditing: A Journal of Practice & A Journal of Practice & Theory. Theory.
Jenkins, J.G., V. Popova, and M.S. Sheldon. 2018. “In Support of Public or Private Interests? An Examination of Sanctions Imposed under the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct.” Journal of Business Ethics. Jenkins, J.G., and J.D. Stanley. 2019. “A Current Evaluation of Independence as a Foundational Element of the Auditing Profession in the United States.” Current Issues in Auditing. Jenkins, Jenkins,J.G., J.G.,E.E.Negangard, Negangard,and andM.M.Oler. Oler. 2018. 2018.“Getting “GettingComfortable ComfortableononAudits Audits:Understanding UnderstandingFirms' Firms’Usage UsageofofForensic Forensic Specialists.”Contemporary ContemporaryAccounting Accounting Specialists.” Research. Research. Jones, J., J. Long, and J.D. Stanley. 2019. "Pane in the Glass: A Review of the Accounting Cycle." Issues in Accounting Education. Kim Key served as the American Taxation Association (ATA) president during the 2018-2019 academic year. The ATA is the tax specialty area of the American Accounting Association (AAA). The President represents the organization and serves as a liaison among its members, board of trustees, advisory board, and AAA staff. The role is largely one of timely communication and facilitating anything needed by twenty ATA committee heads.
RESEARCH RECAP: A Comparative Analysis of Investor and Auditor Materiality Judgments Materiality remains a challenging concept for auditors to implement in practice. The challenges underlying auditor materiality assessments are convoluted by the subjective “reasonable investor” perspective. To address the problem surrounding ambiguous investor materiality judgments and decision making, the authors compare sophisticated and unsophisticated investors’ materiality judgments to experienced auditors charged with assessing materiality from an investor perspective. The results indicate significant differences in judgments among the three participant groups. The overall results suggest the need for further consideration of ways to help auditors meet standards and expectations in this critical domain. Unsophisticated investors have a significantly lower materiality thresholds and levels of self-insight than sophisticated investors and auditors. 18 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
RESEARCH RECAP: Getting Comfortable on Audits: Understanding Firms’ Usage of Forensic Specialists
Increasing financial statement complexity, along with an intense focus on audit quality, has created challenges for today's auditors. As a result, CPA firms are increasingly relying on various specialists to help them perform their audits. To better understand why and how firms are using forensic specialists on their audits, the authors conducted an exploratory survey of experienced audit and forensic professionals. Their results suggest auditors are largely relying on forensic specialists to provide them with additional comfort beyond that obtained from traditional audit procedures. Furthermore, their results demonstrate that the usage of forensic specialists occurs primarily on riskier engagements, such as those involving restatements, initial public offerings, and investigations by regulators or law enforcement agencies. The authors reveal that the majority of auditor and forensic specialist participants believe the value of forensic involvement on audits outweighs the associated costs, even in the absence of such additional audit findings.
Prison Education Project Becomes a Mission Dr. Sarah Stanwick’s heart raced as she approached the Staton Correctional Institute in rural Elmore County, Alabama, in early January Dr. Sarah Stanwick 2019. The School of Accountancy Associate Professor committed to spend four months teaching Principles of Financial Accounting to seventeen male convicts. She would be the first Harbert College of Business faculty member to participate in the Alabama Prison Arts + Education Project (APAEP), and on that first day, she questioned this pioneering career move. The realization of her commitment sank in as she neared the facility. She would be alone in a classroom with the prisoners. No cell phone. No internet access. “I couldn’t catch my breath,” she said. “I thought, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’ My daughter called me while I was en route, and I told her I thought I was having a heart attack, I was so anxious.” Now, she said, she can’t wait to go back. Each Tuesday afternoon of the spring semester, Stanwick shared her knowledge of business and accounting through the APAEP. Founded in 2002 by Auburn faculty member and current Director Kyes Stevens, APAEP has offered thousands of people incarcerated in state prisons the chance to take noncredit courses in a variety of disciplines. Now students are even eligible to earn a Bachelor of Science degree by combining business with human development and family studies coursework. Courses taught within the degree program are identical to those taught on campus. “When they get out of prison, they will have a very useful degree in hand,” Stanwick said. “These people have a second chance.” Dr. Stanwick’s trepidation gave way to a surprising realization on that first day.
“I was greeted by a student who shook my hand and thanked me,” she explained. “All of the anxiety, concerns, fears, were gone. I realized they appreciated that I came in to help them. I became so excited to go every week and continually pondered my lesson plans and how to engage my students.”Aside from traditional PowerPoint slides, Stanwick reinforced lecture topics for Staton inmates with plenty of relatable examples, like the game of Monopoly. Jail puns aside, Stanwick’s students used the game to broker real estate transactions, donate portions of the sales
“I was challenged by their questions,” she said. “The students thought beyond recording transactions and preparing financial statements. They made me think about how to make the class beneficial to their life.” Stanwick also showed students a film on white-collar crime convict Bernie Madoff and the business choices that landed him behind bars. That is when she fully realized she was not in a room with imprisoned criminals. She was in a room with students who were in prison. “I turned my chair around so I could watch the movie right along with them,” she explained. “Halfway through, I realized that my back was to seventeen men I did not know. That was a point where they knew there was mutual trust. And I continued to watch the movie with them.” Stanwick, whose other major outreach project is the Tiger$ense financial literacy fair for middle-schoolers, is developing a financial literacy class she’ll teach to incarcerated students. She looks forward to equipping them with skills that will allow them to better face financial challenges when they are released. “My participation in the APAEP is a way that I can do things for others, but it is also related to our mission here at Auburn. I can be in a classroom and teach, but being able to encourage others and show what the Auburn Family really means is important to me,” Stanwick said.
“Being able to encourage others and show what the Auburn Family really means is important to me.” and investments to Habitat for Humanity, record said donations on a ledger, and determine tax credits. This version of Monopoly was not merely a game where they pass Go or collect $200; it was an education. The class not only heard lectures about the McDonald’s Corporation’s business operations, but they read the fast-food tycoon Ray Kroc’s autobiography and viewed the related movie, The Founder, with discussions along the way. Students learned business and accounting concepts from Stanwick, but she also learned from her students.
Prisoners in the Staton Correctional Institute participate in the Alabama Prison Arts + Education Project. Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 19
FACULTY NEWS
SOA Faculty Tackle New and Exciting Leadership Roles Dr. Duane Brandon
Dr. Duane Brandon was appointed Director of the School of Accountancy as of March 1, 2019. Brandon, who has served on the faculty of the School of Accountancy since 2003, and as the Harbert College of Business director of quality assurance for the past three years, succeeds Jennifer Mueller-Phillips. A recipient of multiple teaching awards, Brandon will continue to teach. His research has been cited extensively and appears in top academic accounting journals, including Contemporary Accounting Research, Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory; the Journal of Accounting & Public Policy, Behavioral Research in Accounting, Journal of Accounting Education, and the Journal of Accountancy, among others. Brandon, a native of Chesapeake, Virginia, received his undergraduate degree in 1997 from Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia, before obtaining his Master of Accountancy in 1998 from Virginia Tech. Brandon completed his PhD at Virginia Tech in 2003.
Dr. Norman Godwin
Dr. Norman Godwin, Professor of Accounting and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the Harbert College of Business, was selected as the Assistant Provost for Academic Effectiveness, effective Jan. 1, 2019. As assistant provost, Godwin works closely with campus leaders and other 20 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
support units to advance the academic mission of the university. In addition to Auburn’s general education and core curriculum processes, Godwin provides leadership to the University Curriculum and Graduate Council Curriculum committees and oversees the academic honesty and administrator review processes. Under the newly formed Office of Academic Effectiveness, Godwin also oversees the university’s faculty awards and directs the Senate Lectures committee. Godwin brings more than 20 years of academic and administrative leadership to the Provost’s Office, including serving as a faculty member in the School of Accountancy since 1996 and later as its director from 2003-2011. As associate dean from 20112018, Godwin provided oversight to the development and growth of the Harbert College’s academic programs and coordinated the expansion of its student support services, including professional and career development, academic advising, professional education, and quality assurance.
Andee Hodo
Andee Hodo succeeds Amy Murphy as the Director of Accounting Graduate and Online Programs, effective July 1, 2019. Hodo joined the SOA in 2015 as the assistant director of online programs, where she was responsible for the marketing, recruiting, advising, and program administration for the five online accounting programs offered by the SOA. In 2018 she added the campus Master of Accountancy to her list of responsibilities. In addition to her role as the director of graduate and online programs, she teaches ACCT 3530 Accounting Analytics each semester. Prior to joining academia, she worked ten years in the software and retail industries. She is a licensed CPA in Alabama and graduated
from Auburn University with a BSBA (’05) and MAcc (’17).
Dr. Jennifer Mueller-Phillips
Dr. Jennifer Mueller-Phillips, KPMG Professor of Accountancy, became Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for the Harbert College of Business on March 1, 2019. MuellerPhillips joined the Auburn faculty in 2000, after completing her PhD at Virginia Tech. She also holds a Master of Accountancy from Virginia Tech and a BS in accounting from Jacksonville State University. Her research interests relate to auditor judgment and liability, with publications appearing in premier journals, such as Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory, Behavioral Research in Accounting, Journal of Information Systems, and Issues in Accounting Education. Recognition includes a highly competitive research grant by the Center for Audit Quality, appointment to a research synthesis team of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and to the KPMG Academic Research Panel, which supports the firm’s funding for academic research nationwide. She has been recognized numerous times for outstanding teaching, including the Harbert College’s prestigious McCartney Award. In the Auburn community, MuellerPhillips serves as Supervisory Committee Chair of the AU Federal Credit Union and served as a board member for a notfor-profit organization for over ten years. Prior to becoming director of the School of Accountancy in 2016, she served the college as director of quality assurance, reporting to the associate eean for academic affairs on assurance of learning and accreditation matters. In 2017, she was named a fellow to the SEC Academic Leadership Development Program, which she completed in 2018.
BETA ALPHA PSI
SPONSORS Our chapter would not be successful without the support of our group of employer sponsors. Below, find a listing of these firms and companies that allow our students to have access to so many internship and full-time opportunities. Thank you! Abbott, Livings, Smith & Higgins PC Aflac Inc. Alabama Society of CPAs Aldridge, Borden & Company PC Anglin Reichmann Armstrong PC Aprio LLP ASCPA BDO USA LLP Becker CPA Review Bennett Thrasher LLP BMSS LLC Borland Benefield PC CapinCrouse LLP Carr, Riggs & Ingram LLC Chick-fil-A Inc. (Corporate) CohnReznick LLP Deloitte LLP Dent Moses LLP Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP Dougherty McKinnon & Luby LLC Encompass Health Ernst & Young LLP (EY) Frazier & Deeter LLC HLB Gross Collins PC Jackson Thornton Johnson Lambert LLP Kassouf & Co. PC Koch Industries Inc. KPMG LLP Large & Gilbert Inc. LBMC Machen McChesney Mauldin & Jenkins LLC Moore Colson Moore Stephens Tiller LLC Myers and Stauffer LC Pearce, Bevill, Leesburg, Moore PC Pivotal Finance PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PC Robert Half Robinson, Grimes & Company PC Rodl & Partner RSM US LLP Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund Smith, Dukes & Buckalew LLP Surgent CPA Review Taylor CPA & Associates PC Tidwell Group LLC Turner Broadcasting System Inc. Warren Averett LLC Wilkins Miller LLC Windham Brannon PC
Beta Alpha Psi officers are friends for life! The 2017 officers celebrate the nuptials of two of their own, Jake and Sarah Callahan (center). Also pictured, from left: Allie LeJeune, Chris Dillon, Lauren Burks, and Flannery Kern.
BAP members are always up for a fun service project! Members attend the Alabama Society of CPAs’ 100th anniversary gala in Montgomery and assist with the event logistics. From left: Rebekah Haas, Colby Lakas, and Mason Mathis. Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 21
BETA ALPHA PSI The 2019 officer board, from left, Anna Lee, Kelsey Hill, Alex Frank, Clara Hotten, Hallie Hunt, Ashley Ray, and Arantza Plascencia.
BAP members team with local volunteers at the Lee County Youth Development Center.
At Chicago's "Bean" sculpture, BAP officers attending the 100th annual meeting pose with the Epsilon Omicron chapter banner.
22 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
2019 BETA ALPHA PSI AWARDS Outstanding Officer
Outstanding Teacher
Michelle Bona
Dr. James Long
Michelle Bona, left, the chapter's 2018 VP of Service, receives a commemorative framed print of Lowder Hall from
Dr. James Long receives the 2019 Outstanding
Colby Lakas, Faculty Advisor.
Teacher Award from chapter president Clara Hotten.
Amy B. Murphy Service Award Recipients
Recipients are recognized for their outstanding service to the chapter. Pictured from left are: Ashley Ray, Alex Williams, Lance Meacham, and Kendall Federer. Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 23
BAP MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Lifelong hockey devotee. Instagram personality. Entrepreneur. Accounting major. Seth Baylis has a lot going on in his life. On his Instagram account, @Hockeytonky, Baylis has garnered nearly a quarter of a million followers, most of them as passionate about hockey as he is. Having this kind of following places Baylis in the relatively new realm of social media “influencers.” This elite group of individuals get the attention of new fans as well as corporate sponsors who offer trips, merchandise to review, and opportunities you never saw coming. But Baylis didn’t get here by chance. Like any adept accounting student, he followed the numbers. At the start, Baylis’s Instagram page looked nothing like the current action-packed, fastpaced layout of shots, sometimes featuring the latest gear and cameos of big names in the hockey world. “When I started using Instagram in 2012, there were not many ‘influencers’ on the platform. I started the account as a share page, and the content was primarily memes and video. Hardly ever my personal stuff,” Baylis said. “I amassed my huge following during Instagram’s prime between 2013 and 2014, but then the landscape changed; the algorithms were different and the growth slowed drastically.” At that point, he repositioned his Instagram content to be more personal, relying less on share-page content. He’s still using that model and optimizing his account’s reach through analytics—a feature Instagram offers to its business accounts. With access to his account’s unique statistics, Baylis knows the best times to post, the days he gets the most engagement, even where most of his followers reside. Despite his nonstop schedule, however, he prioritizes his involvement with BAP.
Baylis, pictured right, has been able to visit a number of hockey establishments as a result of his massive Instagram following. 24 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
The Analytical Influencer “I attend every BAP meeting, and the organization has broadened my knowledge of everything in the accounting world,” he said. “It has really opened my eyes to what I can do in my career.”
“Running this Instagram on the side allows me to have a nice small income and a hobby I really enjoy.” Peer support is crucial, especially for an accounting major/social media star who’s still determined to continue playing his favorite sport. “It is really hard to manage everything, being in such a hard major,” Baylis said. “Junior year was especially difficult with recruiting activities on top of getting into the upper-level accounting classes.” But his fellow Beta Alpha Psi members helped him keep his
head above water. “It’s nice not having class on Friday, as this allows me to fly out of Auburn on Thursday nights for travel if needed. My priority is school, so that comes first. I also try to get on the ice as much as I can, but that can be hard since the nearest rink is in Columbus, Georgia.” Is it tempting to take the momentum he’s built on Instagram and become a professional influencer? “It is possible to build a career around being an influencer, but it is really hard to maintain,” Baylis said. “Running this Instagram on the side allows me to have a nice small income and a hobby I really enjoy. I’ll pick up a few advertisements here and there for a couple hundred to a couple of thousand dollars. I also just started working with a company on a yearly contractual basis for a small salary. I should be able to keep it up wherever my career takes me.”
2019 ACCOUNTING INTERNSHIPS
Bailey Griffin takes advantage of the slopes during her internship at KPMG Denver.
Intern Feels Prepared for a Future in Analytics Recent BSBA graduate Bailey Griffin has entered the burgeoning world of data analytics, with a spring 2019 busy season audit internship at KPMG’s Denver office serving as a springboard. In some ways, she said, the internship was just what she'd expected--she know, for instance, that she would be taking on an enormous workload. But there were also surprises. “I worked a lot, but I had more fun than I expected with my team and client,” Griffin said. “I was also surprised by how much I learned in a short amount of time. It was awesome.” In the Denver office, Griffin worked with small teams but also interacted with staff from KPMG offices worldwide, learning the ways in which the firm coordinates operations among its global offices. She also realized her Auburn education prepared her well for the evolving use of data analytics in the profession. Griffin said her interest in data analytics began well before her internship started.
“I had some extra time in my plan of study to take classes in business analytics and big data, and I got to do a cool project that exposed me to data analytics software,” Griffin said. “I wanted to continue to do accounting but also to pursue analytics. The classes the School of Accountancy encouraged me to take helped me build a foundation in data and analytics and
really big risks are the things that are most valuable,” she said. She first learned about specific data analytics opportunities at KPMG when a representative spoke to her auditing class at Auburn. At Auburn, Griffin, a Dean’s List student and Honors College member, earned the Academic Heritage Scholarship and the Major William Ellis Winter Endowed Scholarship, and won the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art Academic Writing Competition. Griffin said her undergraduate years provided her with a stronger foundation than she had anticipated, citing knowledgeable and open accounting professors, peers in Beta Alpha Psi, and the School of Accountancy in general. Griffin continues her studies at the graduate level, but she is focused on data analytics. “At Auburn, the accounting program is challenging—it’s not easy—but I think I’m ahead of the peers I’ve met from other schools in my analytics program,” she said.
“One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that sometimes what seem like really big risks are the things that are most valuable.” helped me explore and grow my interest in it.” An important lesson prevails from Griffin’s time at Auburn, her internship, her choice of future studies and, ultimately, her career track. That lesson: taking a leap into the unknown can yield enormous rewards. “One of the biggest things I’ve learned, both from my time at Auburn and at KPMG, is that sometimes what seem like
Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 25
2019 ACCOUNTING INTERNSHIPS
Emma Sonnenschein, left, plays four-way Pacman at the Rubrik Intern Summer Arcade.
Aflac Inc. Columbus, GA
Carr, Riggs & Ingram Birmingham, AL
Alabama Department of Revenue Auburn, AL
Chick-fil-A Inc. Atlanta, GA
Altec Birmingham, AL
Christian & Denaburg Birmingham, AL
Aprio Atlanta, GA Birmingham, AL
CohnReznick Atlanta, GA
Atkins Tampa, FL
Daily’s (First Coast Energy) Jacksonville, FL
BBVA Compass Birmingham, AL
Deloitte Atlanta, GA Birmingham, AL London, UK
BDO Atlanta, GA Dallas, TX New York City, NY Bennett Thrasher Atlanta, GA Bhate Geosciences Corporation Birmingham, AL Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Birmingham, AL BMSS Birmingham, AL Huntsville, AL
Auburn's EY interns visit the Magic Kingdom during their summer conference.
Borland Benefield Auburn, AL Brasfield & Gorrie Birmingham, AL
Dent Moses Birmingham, AL Department of Veterans Affairs Eatontown, NJ Dixon Hughes Goodman Atlanta, GA Express Scripts St. Louis, MO EY Atlanta, GA Birmingham, AL Charlotte, NC Dallas, TX Jacksonville, FL Nashville, TN San Antonio, TX Tampa, FL Frazier & Deeter Atlanta, GA Nashville, TN Genesco Nashville, TN Government Accountability Office Washington, D.C. Hilyer & Associates CPAs Opelika, AL
Auburn interns Grace Mitchell, Mare Pass, Brittany Rowe, and Madison Noakes (Business Analytics major). 26 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
Taylor Berry spends his busy season in London.
HLB Gross Collins Atlanta, GA
PwC intern Mary McMullen shows off the Sydney Opera House while on an international rotation.
Ashley Ray and an Alabama student declare a truce during their Southwest Airlines internship.
Jackson Thornton Auburn, AL Montgomery, AL Nashville, TN
Rexnord Corporation Auburn, AL
Koch Industries Atlanta, GA KPMG Atlanta, GA Birmingham, AL Denver, CO Lanese and Associates Tampa, FL LBMC Nashville, TN Machen McChesney Auburn, AL
Rodl & Partner Atlanta, GA RSM Atlanta, GA Birmingham, AL Dallas, TX Nashville, TN Rubrik Palo Alto, CA
Southern States Cooperative Richmond, VA
Mr. Cooper Dallas, TX Myers and Stauffer Atlanta, GA
Southwest Airlines Dallas, TX
Pearce, Bevill, Leesburg, Moore Birmingham, AL Processor’s Choice Birmingham, AL PwC Atlanta, GA Austin, TX Baltimore, MD Birmingham, AL Charlotte, NC Dallas, TX Houston, TX Nashville, TN New York City, NY
Interns Austin Ledbetter, Frannie Smith, Brooke Westhoven, and Lindsey Meadows share the view at PwC Nashville.
Southern Financial Group LLC Birmingham, AL
Mauldin & Jenkins Atlanta, GA
NASA Huntsville, AL
Lawrence DeGuzman works with Under Armour during his Baltimore internship.
Stellar Management New York City, NY Thomas Howell Ferguson Tallahassee, FL
Karoline Thornton attends Wimbledon during her EY international rotation.
Tidwell Group Atlanta, GA Birmingham, AL Under Armour Inc. Baltimore, MD Volt Power LLC Hartselle, AL Warren Averett Birmingham, AL
An RSM internship brings Jordan Lolley to Atlanta, where he and cousins (and AU grads) Alli and Jake Lolley enjoy a rooftop view. Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 27
AUBURN ACCOUNTING ONLINE
Overview
Online MAcc students gather during the MAcc Leadership Summit in April 2019. The online accounting programs offered by the School of Accountancy continue to be among the top-ranked and most respected programs in the nation. With over 300 online Master of Accountancy graduates, over 50 online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accountancy) graduates, and over 30 certificate holders, the online programs seek to increase the reputation and reach of Auburn graduates across the country.
Online Programs Offered: •
Accounting Bridge: Designed for candidates seeking the prerequisites for the online Master of Accountancy or Graduate Certificate in Accountancy
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Undergraduate Certificate in Accountancy: Allows students to complete accounting coursework needed to sit for the CPA Exam
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Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accountancy): Designed for candidates seeking a second degree and aspiring to become CPA Exam-eligible
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Graduate Certificate in Accountancy: Allows students who already hold a master’s degree to meet regional accreditation standards to teach at the collegiate level and provides a path to the Master of Accountancy without the GMAT.
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Master of Accountancy: Provides students the additional technical skills, research, and communication skills, and preparation to pass the CPA Exam: It is identical to the campus Master of Accountancy program.
28 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
Online Alumni Spotlight: Paul Zikmund
Paul Zikmund, 2002, Director at Baker Tilly
“At the time I decided to earn a Master of Accountancy, my job required me to travel extensively. I needed the convenience of an online MAcc and ultimately chose Auburn because of the university’s reputation, curriculum, AACSB accreditation, and cost. I liked that the lectures were recorded and easily accessed. I still recall watching them on weekends with my kids. My experience was excellent. I enjoyed watching the class lectures and interacting with the professors who were routinely available and always responded quickly to questions. The workload was challenging, but I learned so much. The assignments and exams challenged me, but also provided me with not only a great education, but the same one as students attending the classes on campus. The biggest benefit of the online MAcc was my ability to obtain a high-quality education without disrupting my career. Since graduating from Auburn, I have progressed in my career and have used what I learned extensively. The program curriculum allowed me to develop excellent accounting technical, research, and communication skills to prepare me for exciting new opportunities in my field.
I work in the area of compliance, forensic accounting, and risk management. In the twenty years since earning my degree, I have used the skills I gained to achieve positions of higher responsibility. I recently led a global compliance and fraud risk management function for a Fortune 100 company and now work as Director, Global Fraud and Forensic Investigation with Baker Tilly. Much of our work relates to fraud and forensic accounting, which aligns well with my education and experience. I also used my MAcc to secure adjunct professor positions at multiple universities. I teach a variety of courses, some of which are related to accounting and auditing. I’d like to extend a personal thank you to Auburn University and the professors for administering such an excellent program! For anyone considering online programs, I highly recommend pursuing this degree. You will be more than happy with your return on investment of time and money, as the program will undoubtedly help your career and personal growth. Thanks for a great education, and WAR EAGLE!”
Online Student Spotlight: Kaitlin Raver “Flexibility—one of the best attributes of Auburn’s online MAcc program. As an online MAcc student, the flexibility afforded to me over the years was instrumental to my success. I started as a Bridge Program student in the fall semester of 2015 with the intention of continuing on to the MAcc, which I did in the spring of 2017. During the course of my academic career at Auburn, I have changed careers, completed four public accounting busy seasons, passed the CPA Exam, been promoted, become a licensed CPA, started a family (with another [child] on the way), and obtained my master’s degree. All of my accomplishments were made possible by the flexibility of the programs offered at Auburn.
I took advantage of every aspect of the program’s flexibility at some point during the last four years. The delayed due dates and extended testing periods for distance students were invaluable to my performance on assignments. I adjusted my course load each semester, depending on the demands of daily life, and even took a full semester off to focus on the CPA Exam (which paid off)! With all of these adjustments, Andee Hodo modified my plan of study which allowed me to stay on track to graduate as soon as feasible. As a student and full-time working mom, I am impressed by and grateful for the program at Auburn. I am a better accountant, wife, mother, and friend as a result of my Auburn education.”
Kaitlin Raver, Tax Senior, EY, Atlanta, Georgia
Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 29
MAcc PROGRAM
2019 Online and Campus Awards Andrew Harlow Outstanding Online Student
Dr. Tina Loraas Outstanding Online Professor
Andrew is a financial consultant with Nobilitas Visio in Granger, Indiana.
Dr. Loraas teaches two technology-oriented courses in the MAcc program.
Madison May Outstanding Campus Student
Dr. James Long Outstanding Campus Professor
Madison is a tax associate with RSM in Birmingham.
30 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
Dr. Long teaches Financial Analysis & Valuation to MAcc students.
Leadership Summit Is Pinnacle of an Amazing Year
Campus and online students kick off the Leadership Summit with a social at Moore's Mill Golf Course. Inset: JT Pietrantoni, guest writer and 2018-19 MAcc Ambassador.
“As a graduating Master of Accountancy student, I had the privilege of participating in our final requirement, the MAcc Leadership Summit. The fifth annual Summit took place April 24-26, 2019, and consisted of a leadership day and ethics seminar. The three-day summit included both distance and campus Master of Accountancy students and allowed us to build rapport through social events, team building, and continuing education about fraud. One of my favorite parts of the Summit was the opportunity to meet the distance students who participate in the MAcc program remotely. As a campus student, the chance to network with our distance counterparts was invaluable. At the Summit, we realized how a Master of Accountancy from Auburn joins alumni from a variety of locations, and an even greater variety of career experiences.
Campus and online MAcc students take part in game-centered leadership tasks. The leadership day was held at TwentyOne Acres in Auburn and taught us that we are all a part of one team. It doesn’t matter that we just met, work in a separate division, or are sharing resources; we are all working
toward a common goal. Through teambuilding exercises and challenges, we were able to learn the bigger lesson of how working as one large group to achieve our goal results in greater success for all.” Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 31
MAcc PROGRAM
CPA Exam Results Reach Historic High for School, Exceed U.S. Rate Impressive CPA Exam pass scores don’t just happen. In the Harbert College of Business School of Accountancy, they are earned. “At Auburn, students are set up to be successful—that’s how the program is designed,” said Caroline Forbes, 2017 Master of Accountancy (MAcc) graduate and auditor at EY in Atlanta GA. Harbert College’s Master of Accountancy program announced that the Class of 2019 earned one of the highest CPA Exam overall pass rates in school history: 94 percent compared to 54 percent nationally. The pass rates—no less than 92 percent on each of the four sections of the exam—are the byproduct of a rigorous undergraduate curriculum and a graduate program dedicated to preparing students for the exam. “Auburn is unique in that we are one of the few programs that embeds the Becker Review Course and the CPA Exam into the graduate program,” said Andee Hodo, Director of Accounting Graduate and Online Programs. “Most other MAcc programs require the students to navigate the exam on their own. We walk our students through the entire application process, make sure their respective state-bystate requirements are met, and remove the extra stress from the equation. All they have to worry about is passing the exam.” Will Ousley, an Assurance Associate at
PwC in Atlanta and 2018 Auburn MAcc graduate, admitted that all exams make him nervous. “However, I knew Auburn’s curriculum and study schedule prepared me for test day. When you put the effort in to studying, you know how to execute the problems,” he said. That’s the beauty of Auburn’s accounting program. It prepares students for arguably the most important test they’ll take. “Our undergraduate program is rigorous and high-quality—and that’s where much of the preparation for the CPA Exam really happens,” said Duane Brandon, School of Accountancy Director. “We have dedicated, high-caliber faculty. Many of them have been formally recognized for outstanding teaching, with quite a few professors winning college and universitywide teaching awards.” Much of the information tested on the CPA Exam is taught at the undergraduate level. Once students enter graduate school, they are able to focus on refining their skills and expanding their accounting knowledge. Hodo noted that the MAcc program utilizes the Becker Review Course. The entire class studies and prepares together. “Our students are all on the same schedule—it’s very regimented. They sit for each section on the same day. This peerSee Exam, next page
Claire Brien, Class of 2019 "No part of the CPA was easy, but with a network of MAcc alumni, classmates, and professors to support us, it helped keep spirits high. I found that Auburn MAcc students truly embody the Auburn Family and uphold their commitment to excellence. We worked as a class to achieve success, forming lifelong friendships in the process.”
Ben Taylor, Class of 2019 “Studying for the CPA Exam was one of the most difficult, and at the same time, one of the most rewarding experiences of my Auburn career. There were a lot of long study days, but the support of the other students kept everyone accountable. It’s a great feeling when you graduate and start your career having passed all four sections.”
Auburn MAcc Program Class of 2019 CPA Exam Pass Rates
EXAM SECTION
Financial (FAR) Audit (AUD) Regulation (REG) Business (BEC) Overall Average
AUBURN MAcc PROGRAM* First-Time Candidates
NATIONAL PERCENT PASSING AVERAGE** Repeat and First-Time Candidates
95% 44% 93% 58% 92% 59% 94% 55% 94% 54%
* Source: Students’ Official CPA Exam Score Reports on first attempt. ** Source: The National Percent Passing rates for the 1st and 2nd Quarters of 2019 were obtained from the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). Auburn MAcc students sat for FAR and BEC in first quarter 2019 and REG and AUD during the second quarter.
32 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
Viva MAcc International Trip! Contributed by Ward Easterlin, MAcc Ambassador, Class of 2019
Ward Easterlin and Lexie Olszewski hike to Rio's iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. “In October 2018, the MAcc Class of 2019 had the opportunity to travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the annual international trip. Traditionally, the trip took place in December at the culmination of the fall semester; however, our class experimented with earlier timing. As a result, members of our cohort were able to build relationships with each other and faculty members sooner during our one-year program. Weeks before our departure, our cohort was split into different groups to raise money for Viva Rio. Viva Rio supports the health, environment, and education of local favelas (slums) and low-income neighborhoods. The Class of 2019 raised nearly $14,000, which far surpassed the previous fundraising record of $8,900! The 2019 MAccs set the bar high for future classes!
MAcc students moonlight as Carnival dancers. Our cohort, joined by seven SOA faculty members (Dr. Kerry Inger, Dr. Jeff Jones, Dr. James Long, Dr. Duane Brandon, Dr. Mollie Mathis, Dr. Tina Loraas, and Mrs. Andee Hodo), took a midnight flight from Atlanta to Rio. After landing at 7:00 am local time, we were tired and jet-
lagged, but it did not take long before we were able to enjoy the tropical climate and beach views from our hotel. During our first few days in Rio, we had the opportunity to participate in business visits. Our group traveled to a staterun bank in Brazil where a top executive explained business norms of the country; we met with tax and audit professionals from PwC, EY, and RSM who described the similarities and differences of public accounting in the U.S. and Brazil; and we
Students debrief over dinner after the day's activities. had the opportunity to meet entrepreneurs from Rio who recounted their experiences of starting a business in the country. A highlight of our business visits was touring the studios of Grupo Globo, the largest mass media group in Latin America. It is easy to say that the favorite part of the trip was our community service project, which was located in a 5,000-person favela south of Rio. In this favela, we partnered with Viva Rio to paint an indoor theater that students used as part of their theater classes. We played games with the favela’s young children and gave them presents we brought from home. This international trip was an incredibly memorable MAcc Program experience! Our class was able to come together to not only learn more about international business, but help a deserving organization. At the conclusion of our trip, we took home knowledge and experiences that will enrich our lives and careers.
Exam, continued from previous page based support system is unprecedented compared to other MAcc programs.” “I have friends at other schools who were completely on their own with the CPA Exam,” Ousley said. “They didn’t have a supportive group to help them get through it. Auburn has a program with structure.” Forbes said the mini-term format of the Auburn MAcc Program's summer semester improved her study habits. “You have a test every two to three weeks, so courses are kind of set up like the CPA Exam schedule,” she said. “You are in that mindset of preparing for the next test. I even had some professors who used recycled CPA Exam questions in their lectures. It introduced you to the language used on the exam.” The in-class preparation is just the beginning, as students must make sacrifices during their CPA Exam semester. “Aside from taking classes and working as graduate assistants, they often study for an average of 40 hours per week,” Hodo added. “It’s a tough semester.” In addition to bragging rights, there’s a financial incentive to pass all four parts of the exam on the first attempt. Many firms reimburse young accountants the full $1,000 CPA Exam fee when they pass. On top of the reimbursement, bonuses are often involved. Forbes considers the CPA Exam semester one of Auburn’s “key differentiators.” “Having the CPA Exam out of the way before you start work helps you focus on your first two years of your career,” she said. “I see peers who haven’t passed the Exam juggle the deadlines of work and their study schedules, which keeps them from being fully committed to their job.” That’s not a problem for Auburn MAcc alumni. “Auburn students know the value of hard work, which is in our creed,” added Ousley, who is actively involved in PwC’s campus recruiting efforts. “That sets Auburn apart from other schools.” Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 33
MAcc PROGRAM
Claire Hand Receives 2019 Martin Fellowship
Introducing  2019-2020
MAcc Ambassadors Claire Hand
Program Director Andee Hodo presents Claire Hand with this year's graduate award. The Martin Annual Fellowship began in 2010 through the generosity of Gary Martin, and is awarded to a top student pursuing a Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree at Auburn University. Martin serves as Executive Vice Chairman of Martin Sprocket & Gear Inc. and is a 1957 graduate of Auburn University with an industrial management degree. He is deeply committed to Auburn University, and his numerous gifts have touched the Harbert College of Business, the Ginn College of Engineering, the Auburn Equestrian team, University Libraries, and more. The purpose of this fellowship is to provide a deserving graduate student the opportunity to work in a meaningful fellowship role and prepare the graduate fellow to understand the importance of philanthropy and of remaining engaged as an alumnus volunteer leader. Beginning in 2019, the Martin Fellow serves as the official host for the School of Accountancy and as the lead MAcc Ambassador. Claire Hand, from Birmingham, was selected as the 2019-2020 Martin Fellow and follows a long legacy of outstanding MAcc students. 34 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
Lindsey Meadows
Will McMurry
Claire Hand gives a tour to a prospective MAcc student.
Zach Youngstrom
Abbie Taylor
SOA SPORTS
Student-Athletes Compete in Two Challenging Spheres
Mackenzie Johnson
Sport: Wheelchair Basketball Hometown: Spartanburg, SC Academic Year: Senior Why I am proud of my athletic involvement: I’ve played wheelchair basketball for three seasons. My academic “fun fact”: I enjoy motivating other students and was a keynote speaker for the Alabama Society of CPAs Diversity in Accounting Student Conference this fall. People may be interested to know: I love to travel—I have visited four of the seven continents.
Julie McCarthy
Shaina White
Becky Kozma
Brandon Laubser
Sport: Equestrian Hometown: Streamwood, IL Academic Year: Senior Why I am proud of my athletic involvement: Our team is the 2018 and 2019 National Champion and 2019 SEC Champion. My academic “fun fact”: I have received a number of academic honors, including serving as the Student Athlete Advisory Committee Team Representative, and making the SEC Academic Honor Roll, AD Academic Honor Roll, and National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) Academic Honor Roll. People may be interested to know: I will intern at Deloitte in Tax (Atlanta) this summer.
Sport: Men’s Tennis Role on Team: Captain (Senior Year) Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa Academic Year: Graduate (MSIS) Why I am proud of my athletic involvement: I was named the scholar athlete of the year at the 2018 AUSPYs (Auburn’s award show to honor achievements in athletics and academics among Auburn athletes). My academic “fun fact”: I was selected for the Google Cloud College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All District. People may be interested to know: I enjoy being outdoors and being active.
Sport: Women’s Golf Hometown: Dublin, Ireland Academic Year: Junior Why I am proud of my athletic involvement: Our team made it to the final four of nationals this year. My academic “fun fact”: I recently declared accounting as my major. People may be interested to know: I love spending time with friends and family, even though some live very far away!
Sport: Volleyball Role on Team: Captain Hometown: Mission Viejo, CA Academic Year: Graduate (MAcc Program) Why I am proud of my athletic involvement: I hold a record for single season hitting percentage for Auburn volleyball. My academic “fun fact”: I graduated in May with summa cum laude distinction. People may be interested to know: I played the violin up until I came to college.
Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 35
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS: Each year, the firms listed below make graduate school possible for outstanding students. These firms finance graduate assistantship positions, which provide a twelve-month stipend totaling $9,696. In addition to the stipend funded by the firms, the students receive a full-tuition waiver. Given the tuition waiver, the full value of the assistantship is $59,000 for out-of-state students and $33,000 for in-state students. We sincerely appreciate the generosity of these firms for helping the School of Accountancy attract great students to the Master of Accountancy Program.
AWARDS:
Alabama Society of CPAs Accounting Achievement Award
Ben Seneker, Johnson City, TN
EY Graduate Assistant Ben Seneker (Charlotte Audit) with Partner Greg Heston (right).
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Graduate Assistantship Lindsey Meadows, Knoxville, TN
Becker CPA Review Course Award Abigail Hampton, Rainsville, AL Ivee Maughan, Sierra Vista, AZ Kaitlin Moye, Smiths Station, AL Robert Ricks, Milbrook, AL Elizabeth Starling, Newville, AL Marissa Warzynski, Almond, WI
Federation of Schools of Accountancy Student Achievement Award Lindsey Meadows, Knoxville, TN
Aflac Inc. Accounting Scholarship
Lamar Barnett, Aflac VP of Internal Audit, presents scholarship awards to Shenandoah Terry and Emma Dean.
ASCPA Educational Foundation Scholarship Mary Catherine Hyde, Mobile, AL
Parker Bethea, Birmingham, AL
ASCPA East Alabama Chapter Scholarship Mason Mathis, Brownsboro, AL
36 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
Sam Teel, left, receives his scholarship from Aldridge Borden Partner Leigh Dykes.
Aprio Accounting Scholarship Riley Eidson, Roswell, GA
Emma Dean, Dothan, AL Shenandoah Terry, Ivoryton, CT
ASCPA/Kassouf & Company Endowed Scholarship
PwC Graduate Assistant Lindsey Meadows (Nashville Audit) with Partner Terry Sparks.
Sam Teel, Wetumpka, AL
Rebekah Horton, Birmingham, AL
SCHOLARSHIPS: Ernst & Young LLP Graduate Assistantship
Aldridge, Borden & Company PC Accounting Scholarship
Terry Hensler, a senior manager in the firm, presents the Aprio scholarship to Riley Eidson.
Ken and Missy Baggett Endowed Accounting Scholarship Amy Hall, Tampa, FL
Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith PC Accounting Scholarship Caroline Gentle, Vestavia Hills, AL
Jere and Sara Beasley Endowed Scholarship Karoline Thornton, New Brockton, AL
Bennett Thrasher PC
Accounting Scholarship Chris Jones, Northville, MI
Ernst & Young LLP Accounting Scholarship Clara Hotten, Vestavia Hills, AL Hallie Hunt, Newnan, GA Walker Minor, Birmingham, AL
Grant Hobdy Haygood Memorial Scholarship Mary Kate Pair, Valley Head, AL Ashley Ray, Arlington, TX Brittany Rowe, Opelika, AL Alex Williams, Guntersville, AL
Dick and Terry Ingwersen Accounting Scholarship
Chris Jones, left, receives his award from Tate Yawn, senior associate with Bennett Thrasher.
R. Bernard Blankenship Scholarship in Accountancy Sarah Czaicki, Parker, CO
Greg Burgess Memorial Scholarship in Accountancy Ethan Thomas, Madison, AL
EY's Megan Carter, far right, stands with scholarship recipients Mathis Ware, Walker Minor, Hallie Hunt, and Clara Hotten. Mathis Ware, Eufaula, AL
Ernst & Young LLP/ R. Travis Kirkpatrick Memorial Endowment
Certified Management Accountant (CMA) Exam Scholarship
Dick and Terry Ingwersen flank their award recipients, Mary Lee Livingston and Julia Brecker.
Josh Pratt, Houston, TX
Julia Brecker, Brentwood, TN Mary Lee Livingston, Mountain Brook, AL
CohnReznick LLP Accounting Scholarship
Jackson Thornton Accounting Scholarship Caroline Richards, Eufaula, AL
Lawrence DeGuzman, Emerson, NJ
Retired EY Partner Art Guy presents the R. Travis Kirkpatrick Award to Chase Burton and Madison Foster. Chase Burton, Birmingham, AL Madison Foster, Athens, AL
Laverne Taylor Flanagan Accounting Scholarship, Carrie Holt, Florence, AL CohnReznick Partner Ryan Mills presents a scholarship to Lawrence DeGuzman.
Deloitte LLP Accounting Scholarship Maggie Costa, Lillian, AL John David Cox, Troy, AL Cole Tomlinson, Huntsville, AL
Amanda and Jeff Foster Endowed Fellowship Ben Seneker, Johnson City, TN
Frazier & Deeter LLC Accounting Scholarship Alex Frank, Hoover, AL
John P. Jones Endowed Scholarship in Accountancy Jacob Fink, Mobile, AL Jordan Lolley, Auburn, AL Sarah McDaniel, Birmingham, AL
L. Paul Kassouf & Company PC Endowed Scholarship Makenzie Warnick, Northport, AL
KPMG LLP Accounting Scholarship Charlie Payne, Richmond, VA, Sarah Wisneski, Columbia, IL
Machen McChesney LLP Accounting Scholarship Madison Pugh, Tallassee, AL
Mauldin & Jenkins LLC Accounting Scholarship
Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 37
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
Alice Bailey, Simpsonville, SC Taylor Neff, Suwanee, GA
Natalie Bleazard, Jasper, AL
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Accounting Scholarship
Trey Cheatham, Decatur, AL Arantza Plascencia, Pelham, AL
Philip Marshall McElroy Memorial Scholarship
Adele Bird, Mountain Brook, AL Kelsey Hill, Lake Forest, IL Anna Lee, Decatur, AL Bailey Womack, Birmingham, AL
John Schaffers, Birmingham, AL
Nolan Daniel, Franklin, TN
School of Accountancy Faculty and Staff Scholarship
Ethan Reback, Brookhaven, GA
Chloe Barger, Birmingham, AL Alissa Beattie, Midland, TX Polly Bjelke, Huntsville, AL Rebekah Horton, Birmingham, AL Hunter Short, Columbus, MS Montgomery-Lee Todd, Wilsonville, OR Alex Wang, Auburn, AL
C.G. Mills Endowment for Instructional Excellence in Accountancy Morgan Duff, Knoxville, TN Max Sivalls, Midland, TX
Isabel Sandoval, Birmingham, AL
Pearce, Bevill, Leesburg, Moore PC Accounting Scholarship Amanda Mallory, Gadsden, AL
Melba C. Peebles Accounting Scholarship
Brooke (Peebles) Walker and her father, Willard Peebles, stand with their award recipients, Alice Bailey and Taylor Neff.
School of Accountancy Advisory Council Scholarship Lindsey Meadows, Knoxville, TN
Metcalf Davis Endowed Accounting Scholarship
William J. Nettles Endowed Memorial Scholarship
Jerry Lewis Savage Memorial Accounting Scholarship
Director Jennie Duvall, second from right, presents PwC scholarships to Bailey Womack, Lindsey Young, Anna Lee, and Adele Bird.
Thomas W. and Patricia M. Tripp Endowed Accounting Scholarship
Lindsey Young, Birmingham, AL
Warren Averett LLC Accounting Scholarship
RSM US LLP Endowed Accounting Scholarship
RSM Partner Scott Stewart, center, presents scholarships to Trey Cheatham and Arantza Plascencia.
Rebecca Michaels, Dunwoody, GA
Mallory Byrne, Daphne, AL Jarod Gibson, Anniston, AL
Warren Averett member Grant Cardwell, right, presents awards to Jarod Gibson, Grace Mitchell, Hannah Markert, and Mallory Byrne. Hannah Markert, Hoover, AL Grace Mitchell, Decatur, AL
Elton & Janet Wolf Endowed Scholarship in Accounting Francie George, Memphis, TN
38 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
Warnick Is Auburn’s Eighth Consecutive PCAOB Scholar
Makenzie Warnick, a senior from Northport, Alabama, is the School of Accountancy’s eighth Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) scholar. This honor is accompanied by an extremely generous monetary award—Makenzie also receives a $10,000 scholarship for the 2019-2020 academic year. The prestigious PCAOB Scholarship Program, now in its ninth year of funding awards, was created to satisfy a requirement of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The
Act mandates that the PCAOB use money collected from disciplinary penalties to fund a merit scholarship program for students in accredited accounting degree programs. Nominees must demonstrate an interest and aptitude in accounting and auditing. Makenzie, a perfect 4.0 student, already had the interest and aptitude for the degree. Thanks to the PCAOB, she now has the funds to complete it. “I knew from a young age that pursuing a formal education and degree would be one of the most important things I would ever do, and awards like this support me in achieving those goals,” Warnick said. “This award means so much to me and my family because it helps me move one step closer to graduating … and to becoming a certified public accountant.” Warnick looks forward to interning this spring at PwC in Nashville and is fascinated by the audit side of accounting because of the variety of industries and environments she will be exposed to on the job. “I am convinced that the professors in the School of Accountancy are the best professors on campus. They are an integral part of my academic success through their commitment to my education,” she added. “The SOA faculty has also prepared me exceptionally well for my career after graduation through their advice and preparation for the internship recruiting process, which has been invaluable to me. I appreciate their willingness to answer any
and all of my questions about accounting, no matter how many I’ve already asked!” Warnick is more than just an awardwinning accounting student. She is also a peer career advisor at the Auburn University Student Center and a student recruiter (campus tour guide). “I love being a part of the Auburn Family, and helping another student also means helping a member of my family,” she added. “Advising students on their career preparedness has been such a joy because I get to hear so many people’s life stories as well as make a tangible difference in their career development process. Being a student recruiter means formally doing what I do all the time anyway: tell everyone why I love Auburn so much! Having the opportunity to share my passion for Auburn with prospective students and parents has been one of the most memorable parts of my college experience.” Makenzie loves Auburn so much that she plans to spend another year on the Plains after graduation. She aspires for acceptance to the Auburn Master of Accountancy Program, where she will take another step toward her goal of obtaining her CPA. Other recent PCAOB Scholarship recipients from Auburn University’s School of Accountancy include Ben Seneker (2018-19), Sarah Patrick (2017-18), Zach Blomeley (2016-17), Lauren Cleveland (2015-16), and Brandon Steverson (201415).
Makenzie Warnick loves Auburn, which makes her job as a student recruiter an easy one! Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 39
ALUMNI NEWS
Accounting & Auditing Summit Adopts New Theme for 2020
Vince Walden, formerly of EY's Forensics and Integrity Services division, introduces his audience to the latest technologies.
Vince Walden 40 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
The Accounting & Auditing Summit began in 2016 to serve as the culmination of the Master of Accountancy program for graduating students before they left campus to begin their careers. Driven by the School of Accountancy mission, “To advance the field of accounting and prepare tomorrow’s accounting leaders,” the annual summit seeks to bring together Master of Accountancy students with practicing CPAs to deliver first-class, relevant continuing education. For the first three years, the focus of the event was on the different facets of fraud. From fraudsters who provide
unprecedented insight into the minds of a white-collar criminal to whistleblowers who risk their careers to take a stand and forensic accountants who work daily to uncover the most complicated schemes, the Accounting & Auditing Summit has challenged the mindset of attendees through the sharing of stories that are often hard to hear and even harder to fathom. In the final year of the fraud theme, the 2019 Accounting & Auditing Summit: Investigating Fraud featured four unique stories and perspectives. Kevin Robinson, Associate Vice President of Audit, Compliance, and Privacy for Auburn
Boyd Busby of the Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy provides updates on the profession.
Sam Antar's brash manner of storytelling keeps the audience entertained.
University, entertained the crowd with his tales of “The Influential Auditor.� Boyd Busby, Executive Director of the Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy, informed attendees of the new CPE changes and other updates that would affect Alabama CPAs. Vince Walden, Former Partner, Forensic & Integrity Services with EY, provided a glimpse into the future of the accounting profession with his overview of data visualization, analytics, and robotics process automation. With hands-on demonstrations of Alteryx and Blue Prism, attendees were captivated by how the profession is quickly changing. The event ended with the most wellknown, but also the most controversial speaker of the program. Sam Antar, former CFO of consumer electronics chain Crazy Eddie, shocked attendees with his boastful and prideful portrayal of his time as a criminal. A seasoned public speaker, Antar grabbed the audience with his brash and direct delivery and unapologetic take on the massive fraud perpetuated over many years at Crazy Eddie. His delivery was effective, and attendees were spellbound as he shared his story. The annual Accounting & Auditing Summit has highlighted some of the most notorious white-collar crimes in U.S. history: Crazy Eddie, Enron, WorldCom, and HealthSouth. Master of Accountancy students have seen firsthand how these individuals easily slipped into a life of crime and how incredibly difficult it was for whistleblowers to stand up for what is right. The School of Accountancy aims for students to learn that ethics and morals are not black and white; the public trust in CPAs demands integrity from everyone in the profession. The 2020 Accounting & Auditing Summit will shift focus as the profession transforms and seeks to bring new and innovative topics for all attendees. The next annual Summit will be held on Friday, April 24, 2020. Information about the event can be found at harbert.auburn.edu/cpesoa as it becomes available. Please contact Andee Hodo at andee.hodo@auburn.edu to join the mailing list to receive future notifications about the event, including the speaker lineup. Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 41
ALUMNI NEWS
FALL 2019 TAILGATE
The School of Accountancy hosted its eigth annual tailgate during the 2019 football season for our alumni and friends. It was great to reconnect with former classmates and their guests! We are always delighted to see so many alums and guests at our tailgate reunion.
The Beta Alpha Psi Kids Zone is always a hit.
Aubie made a surprise appearance.
Elizabeth ('07) and J. Ryan ('07) Alford and family enjoy the tour of Horton-Hardgrave Hall. Former SOA Director and Advisory Council member DeWayne Searcy enjoys coming back and letting former colleagues entertain him.
Wilton's Catering provides a great spread.
The tailgate tent was loacated in the Benoski Family Courtyard of the Harbert business complex and is the tailgate's new home. 42 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
ALUMNI CAREER MILESTONES Luke Kinzer Promoted to Partner at Anglin Reichmann Armstrong Luke (BSBA ’06) works in the Audit and Assurance group of Huntsville, AL -based Anglin Reichmann Armstrong. He provides services to biotechnology and government contractor clients and notfor-profit agencies. He is a CPA, CGMA, and CFE, and is a graduate of the ASCPA Leadership Class.
Michael Lange Promoted to Partner at Aprio Michael Lange (BSBA ’06) works in Aprio’s Atlanta Assurance practice and is a leader of the firm’s Manufacturing and Distribution group. He also has served technology, professional services, and retail and hospitality companies across the US during his career with the firm. Michael is a CPA in Georgia.
Brian Hamm Promoted to Partner at Bennett Thrasher Brian Hamm (BSBA ’01, MAcc ’02) works in Atlantabased Bennett Thrasher’s Financial Reporting and Assurance department and currently co-heads the firm’s Technology & Biosciences industry practice. Prior to joining the firm, Brian worked for a local firm in Albany, Georgia. Brian is a CPA licensed in the states of Alabama and Georgia.
Kate Fluker and Daniel Tew Named to Alabama Associated General Contractors’ (AGC) “40 Under 40” List Each year, the AGC recognizes rising stars in commercial construction who demonstrate an incredibly high level of leadership, professional excellence, and commitment to the construction industry throughout the state of Alabama. We are proud to have two Auburn graduates among the 2019 group. Fluker (BSBA ’09, MAcc ’10), a CPA employed by BMSS LLC in Birmingham, is active in the Greater Birmingham chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction. Associates describe her as having a passion for construction and offering a strong voice for women in the industry. Tew (BSBA ’07) is a CPA and senior manager with Jackson Thornton’s Dothan, Alabama, office, using his financial expertise in support of the construction industry. Active in the Dothan section of AGC, he is in line to be an officer next year.
Will Jones Promoted to Principal at Jackson Thornton Will Jones (BSBA ’06, MAcc ’07) works in the firm’s Opelika, Alabama, office and has been with Jackson Thornton for twelve years.
Will, a CPA in Alabama, specializes in tax planning and consulting for individuals and closely-held businesses. He is also active in the Auburn Young Professionals program and East Alabama chapter of the Alabama Society of CPAs.
Alan Alexander Named Jackson Thornton Chief Operating Officer Alan (BSBA ’89) joined Jackson Thornton in November 2018 from RSM US where he was a Strategic Project Director/Senior Manager. He served as the COO for Sellers, Richardson, Holman & West prior to their acquisition by RSM US. Alan also holds a MAcc from UAB. He is a CPA in Alabama is also a national board member of the CPA Firm Management Association.
Don Machen Honored with 2018 Walter Gilbert Award Don Machen (BSBA ’62) received The Walter Gilbert Award in fall 2018. Presented annually, this award goes to a former Auburn student-athlete who has demonstrated excellence in his or her chosen field. As a former football team co-captain, Don was coached by household names of the Auburn program, including Ralph Jordan, Vince Dooley, and Joel Eaves. He has practiced public accounting in Auburn since 1963, rising to be a managing partner of Machen McChesney LLP, a firm with offices in Auburn and Montgomery. Although he retired from the Auburn practice in 2002, he continues to consult for the firm.
See Milestones, page 46 Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 43
ALUMNI NEWS
ENGAGE WITH
Donor spotlight: Phillip Prince ’04, ’05 Waco, Texas
“I'm lucky to be a member of the Auburn Family in many ways: I come from an Auburn-loving family, went to school here and I met my wife (and many other life-long friends) here. Auburn has been very good to me, as has the School of Accountancy. When I learned that Amy Murphy was retiring, I jumped at the chance to play a small part in honoring her phenomenal impact on countless Auburn accounting students. Amy played a key role in helping me and my fellow students navigate the job market, and she was a relentless cheerleader for the quality of the SOA — particularly the MAcc program. My wife and I moved to Texas a few years ago, so we don't get back to Auburn as much as we would like. But we have a passion for this place, and we are extremely grateful for the impact that it had on us; we want to use some of our resources to enable others to have the sort of experience we had. It's life changing, and it's something we are all fortunate to be a part of.” 44 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
THE SOA
The U.S. map denotes the population density of the SOA alumni base outside Alabama (darkest color = greatest number of graduates). Icons represent locations of Harbert Young Alumni chapters.
Donor spotlight: Laura Quimby Hanks ’03, ’04 Huntsville, Alabama
“Attending Auburn University and earning my degree in accounting enabled many opportunities for me to give back. I learned that people gave before me, so why wouldn’t I?” Laura speaks to her continued support to the Harbert College’s School of Accountancy as she approaches ten years of consecutive giving. She follows the lead of her father, who has been giving back to the program since he graduated in 1975. We thank Laura for her continued support.
How to Make a Gift
Make checks payable to the Auburn University Foundation and mail them to: Harbert College of Business (Attn: Lisa Cole), 405 W. Magnolia Ave., Suite 203, Auburn, AL 36849 You can only give online by visiting AuburnGiving.org/SOA.
For more information, contact: Alexandra Maffett Office of Advancement Development Associate ahm0019@auburn.edu P: 334-844-1356 Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 45
ALUMNI NEWS
IN MEMORIAM
Milestones, continued from page 43
Nicole Cunningham Promoted to Partner at Mauldin & Jenkins Nicole Cunningham (BSBA ’04, MAcc ’05) has been with Mauldin & Jenkins in Birmingham since 2005. Her experience includes audits for financial institutions, non-profit organizations, and HUD. Nicole is a CPA in Alabama and a member of the Birmingham Young CPAs, the Alabama Association of Non-Profits, and is on the faculty of the Alabama Banking School.
Dick Ingwersen Presented 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award and Gives Address at Summer Commencement
1959-2019
Bo Taber Promoted to Partner at Robinson Grimes Bo Taber (BSBA ’04) obtained a degree in finance from Auburn University, and subsequently completed his accounting studies at Columbus State University in 2011. He joined Robinson Grimes’ Audit Department eight years ago, and is a CPA in Georgia. Bo serves the Columbus community as the Treasurer for Port Columbus National Civil War Naval Museum and the Optimist Club of Columbus.
Please share your news with us! Send updates to acctalum@auburn.edu. 46 The SOA Connection Winter 2020
CHARLOTTE E. MILLER
Dick Ingwersen (BSBA ’70) was among the four 2019 Auburn Alumni Association Lifetime Achievement Award winners recognized in spring 2019. After graduating from Auburn, Dick earned his juris doctor degree from Emory Law School. Under his leadership, Gifford, Hillegass & Ingwersen (GH&I), became one of the top local CPA firms in Atlanta. He was instrumental in completing the merger between GH&I and Warren Averett LLC, the fifth-largest accounting firm in the southeast. A former defensive end for the Auburn Tigers under Shug Jordan in the late 1960s, Ingwersen received the Walter Gilbert Award in 2016. In addition to receiving the highest award the association bestows on members of the Auburn Family, Dick was the keynote speaker for both of the Summer 2019 commencement ceremonies.
A cherished mother, skilled accountant, and admired storyteller all describe Beauregard resident Charlotte Miller, one of the 23 individuals who passed away during the devastating tornado that hit Lee County on March 3, 2019. Born and raised in Randolph County, Miller earned an accounting degree from Auburn University (BSBA ’81), later working for 19 years as a CPA for the Opelika-based firm, Bartlett, Gunter & Yeager. Inspired by her upbringings, Miller penned a trilogy in the early 2000s that captures the life and family story of a struggling farmer. Published by NewSouth Books, the books were a strong seller according to an interview with editor-in-chief Randall Williams. The three books—in order of publication—are titled “Behold, This Dreamer,” “Through a Glass, Darkly,” and “There Is a River.” Charlotte is survived by her son, Justin Miller (wife, Mary) of Opelika.
KENNETH E. BAGGETT 1954-2019
Ken (BSBA ’77) was a bold leader, innovator, colleague, and friend. As co-CEO of CohnReznick and, later, chairman of the board, Ken helped establish CohnReznick as a top national advisory, assurance, and tax firm, and was instrumental in propelling its growth. For nine years, he served as managing principal and CEO of the CohnReznick predecessor firm, Reznick Group, leading it to a top 20 national ranking among public accounting firms. Ken earned many honors for his contributions to the accounting profession. In 2017, he was inducted into The Advisory Board’s “Winning Is Everything” Hall
of Fame, which recognizes leaders whose influence advances the CPA profession and leaves a legacy of innovation. He was consistently listed as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential Accountants” by Accounting Today and as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential Practitioners” by CPA Magazine. For three consecutive years, he was recognized by his peers as one of Inside Public Accounting’s five most admired CPAs. He served as a past world chair of the International Group of Accounting Firms (now PrimeGlobal). A proud and active alumnus of Auburn University, Ken was recognized as one of the top 40 alumni in the last 40 years by the
Harbert College of Business and was named the 2005 School of Accountancy Outstanding Alumnus. He also previously served as president and a board member of the SOA Advisory Council. Ken spent much of his career in Atlanta before retiring in Auburn. He is survived by his beloved wife of 44 years, Missy; sons, Chris (Emily) and Cole (Montsé); and grandchildren, Polly and William. Memorial gifts may be made to: Ken and Missy Baggett Endowed Scholarship, Auburn University Foundation, School of Accountancy. Winter 2020 The SOA Connection 47
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